Villa Genoese Zerbi, a historic building of Reggio Calabria, rises majestically along Corso Vittorio Emanuele III, occupying the place where once stood the ancient residence of the Genoese family, built before 1860.

This noble family, in the 19th century, added the surname of the Zerbi to their own, giving rise to the name “Genoese Zerbi.” After the devastation of the 1908 earthquake, the villa was rebuilt in a position set back from the previous one, in accordance with the regulations established by the new City Plan. Furthermore, innovative construction techniques and new materials such as reinforced concrete were used.

The first project by engineers Zerbi, Pertini, and Marzats dates back to 1915, but it took about ten years to reach the final design drawn up by engineer Domenico Zerbi. The villa has its front side facing the Strait and occupies an area between Via Giulia, Via Zaleuco, Via Camagna, and Corso Vittorio Emanuele III.

Its eclectic appearance and its unique style capture the eye and place it in the foreground, setting it apart from the other buildings along the seafront, which develop in a more unified and organic way. The villa is composed of a central body, with a trapezoidal floor plan, on two floors, and two lateral bodies used as guest quarters.

The façade, covered in brickwork, is characterized not only by its strong chromatic effect but above all by its rich decorative apparatus that recalls the Venetian neo-Gothic models of the 14th century. The architecture of the villa is rather elaborate and consists of loggias marked by ogee arches on columns bearing composite capitals. All openings have a pointed arch or ogee arch shape. The building ends with a terrace adorned with battlements.

For a long time, Villa Genoese Zerbi has been an important cultural hub for the city, hosting periodic exhibitions of painting, sculpture, architecture, and photography. It also hosted the prestigious exhibitions of the Venice Biennale in Southern Italy.