Palazzo delle Poste (Post Office Building), La Spezia

The Post Office Building, located in Piazza Verdi, is an architectural landmark designed by Angiolo Mazzoni and inaugurated in 1933. This striking structure was part of a broader urban renewal effort, replacing an earlier plan for a theater in the same area. Set against the Torretto hill, the U-shaped building is raised above street level and accessed via a wide travertine staircase. The design, influenced by Futurism, features a façade that balances monumentality and elegance, with exposed brickwork contrasting against travertine cladding. A defining feature of the post office is its series of nine tall arched openings, which enhance the building's verticality and are topped with windows that bring light into the interior.

One of the most distinctive elements of the building is its clock tower, a square structure punctuated by three arched windows on each side and vertical glass panels that accentuate its height. The façade also features two symmetrical staircases, one beneath the tower and another along the left side, connecting Piazza Verdi to Via XX Settembre. Adjacent to the staircase, a Futurist-style fountain, with its dynamic, ascending lines, adds to the modernist aesthetic.

The interior of the post office is equally remarkable, featuring a rich variety of polychrome marbles, including the black-gold Portoro marble from Palmaria Island, Rosso di Verona, and Zebrino marble. Mazzoni extended his design beyond architecture, incorporating custom furnishings, a lighting system, and Murano glass chandeliers from the renowned Venini glassworks. The building’s Clock Tower also houses a Futurist mosaic, which visitors can access from the main atrium, offering a glimpse into the artistic vision of the period.