Fort Saint Salvatore and Little Madonna of the Port Statue, Messina

Fort Saint Salvatore, strategically positioned at the entrance of the port of Messina, was commissioned in the 16th century to reinforce the city's defenses. Designed for military superiority, the fort's placement at the edge of the Strait of Messina made it a formidable stronghold, capable of controlling naval access to the harbor and ensuring the security of one of Sicily’s most important ports.

The architecture of Fort Saint Salvatore reflects its defensive purpose. The fort’s bastions once housed powerful artillery batteries aimed at the Strait and the port’s entrance, ready to counter enemy incursions. Entry to the structure is now through a 17th-century portal, adorned with a Spanish inscription referencing renovations carried out in 1614. However, the fortress suffered severe damage in the catastrophic 1908 earthquake, which necessitated the demolition of portions of its walls the following year, altering its original form.

A defining feature of the fort today is La Madonnina del Porto (Little Madonna of the Port), a monumental statue erected in 1934 on the site of the medieval Tower of Saint Anne. Standing atop a 60-meter-high octagonal column, the golden statue serves as a beacon for ships entering Messina’s harbor, symbolizing protection and blessing for the city.

The inscription at its base, “Vos et ipsam civitatem benedicimus” ("We bless you and your city"), is a tribute to a legend dating back to 42 AD, when the Virgin Mary is said to have sent a letter of benediction to the people of Messina.