Messina - Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani

The second important church building in Messina is the Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani reached from the Piazza del Duomo southwestwards along the Via I Settembre, then first left into the Via Cesare Battisti, and thence to the Piazzetta dei Catalani. It is the only building to have survived the earthquake of 1908. It was built in the second half of the 12th century under Norman rule. The east side dates from this time; the main apse between the transept arms is distinguished by the delicate architectonic arrangement of its false arcades on small elegant columns and by its multicolored building materials. The west side with its three portals dates from the 13th century, when alterations to the building were undertaken. In the three-aisled interior stilted arches are supported on ancient columns with capitals which are not uniform. The central aisle has barrel vaulting, the side aisles have cross vaulting.