Fontana Pretoria
A large 16th-century fountain carved by Florentine craftsmen, surrounded by dozens of nude statues, nicknamed the 'Fountain of Shame' by locals.
The Pretoria Fountain was originally commissioned for a villa in Florence. In 1574 Palermo's city council bought it, had it dismantled into hundreds of pieces, shipped to Sicily and reassembled in Piazza Pretoria. The fountain has several tiers, surrounded by mythological figures, river gods and animal heads. Because of its many nude figures, it became known as the 'Fountain of Shame'. On one side of the square stands the town hall, the Palazzo delle Aquile, or 'Palace of the Eagles', and behind it is the Church of Santa Caterina. The fountain is fenced off, but you can admire it from outside the railings at no cost.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Santa Caterina Church & Monastery
- Quattro Canti
- La Martorana & San Cataldo
- Chiesa del Gesù (Casa Professa)
- La Vucciria
- Ballarò Market
- Antonino Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum
- Oratorio del Rosario di Santa Cita