Palazzo Messere
(19th century)
In the dynamic 19th century, the town council of Giovinazzo decided to transform the old urban landscape and knocked down the walls which surrounded the old town centre near Via Fossato. Their aim was ambitious: to create space for the construction of a new Town Hall. The land was cleared of the rubble of the ancient walls and put up for sale, attracting the interest of aristocratic families wishing to build prestigious homes.
Among these, the Messere family distinguished themselves with the grandiosity of their project. Mauro Messere was a successful, forward-thinking man and between 1864 and 1867 he built a grand palace. The building faces Via Madonna degli Angeli and has an elegant façade. In the entrance hall is a magnificent double staircase leading to the upper floor. Here, a refined Liberty-style salon precedes a sumptuous ballroom, testament to the taste and prestige of the family.
Mauro Messere was not just a landowner and merchant, he was also a pioneer in the modernisation of the olive oil industry. His son, Francesco continued his work and established a farming business with vineyards and almond groves which contributed to the family’s prosperity. The generosity of the Messere family was well-known. Ruggero Messere, the last mayor before the advent of fascism, donated land to the town on which the Liceo Spinelli school was built. This gesture is a tangible reminder of the family’s commitment to education and to the community. His son Francesco completed the work, obtaining the recognition of the school by the State, thus further consolidating the family’s connection with the town and its cultural development.
