Completed in 1938 by architect Giuseppe Pettazzi, the Fiat Tagliero service station remains one of the world’s most audacious triumphs of Futurist architecture. Designed to resemble an airplane preparing for flight, its soaring 15-meter cantilevered concrete wings project freely on either side without the support of structural pillars.
Defying the Laws of Gravity
Local lore recounts that Pettazzi threatened to shoot himself if the unsupported wings collapsed when the wooden scaffolding was removed. The wings held, and nearly a century later, the structure stands completely intact without a crack, defying both architectural skepticism and the passage of time.
Visitor & Photography Guide
Located at the intersection of Sematat Avenue and Mereb Street, the site is best viewed and photographed during mid-morning when the natural light accents the clean geometry of the central tower and the underside of the wings.