Messina rebels against the Spanish Crown in 1674 and, besieged, it repeats the deeds heroic of the days of the Vespri. Single, abandoned to its destiny from the king of France Luigi XIV, after the peace of Nimega, it must to yeld to the strength of the enemy. The Spanish revenge it will be inexorable. All privilege of which Messina enjoyed and that of they were the virtue and the pride came abolished and also the University came sluice. The Senatorio Palace was destroyed.

Tragedy frightful that was perceived in all Europe and that powerful city marked the end of one militarily and economically; fior the flower of the messinese nobility, artists and men of talent and, between these architect Filippo Juvara, take the way of the exile. In the 1679 Spanish they construct the Citadel, one formidable military fortress in order to defend itself from the external and inner enemies of the city.