Piazza Pretoria
Piazza Pretoria
4.5
About
This grand square features a splendid fountain, erected during the heyday of the Spanish Inquisition, which features sixteen statues that are nudes of nymphs, humans, mermaids and satyrs; truly a surprise that this type of art was permitted during that dark time in history.
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- Paul HWakefield, United Kingdom323 contributionsGreat Fresh FoodI stopped in to this pizzeria mainly because of the smiley and chatty hostess outside, a great selection of pizzas, pastas and traditional meat dishes. Pizzas onbthe other tables look good so I ordered one and it was excellent, tasty and freshly made. Afew nights later I visited again and had a veal dish with was also excellent, I would recommend this place for the great food but also for the great street side location with views of Quattro Canti and the Pretoria fountain but also for the attentive friendlies of the waitresses.Visited April 2024Travelled soloWritten 11 April 2024
- Seeking True QualityEurope4,803 contributionsWhat a masterpiece, what a story!Just a few steps from the Quattro Canti, we visited the Piazza Pretoria Square dominated by a grandiose fountain! Our friendly guide told us the extraordinary story of it. The fountain was designed in 1554 in Florence, Tuscany for the Palazzo San Clemente, but in 1573 the Senate of Palermo purchased it and transported it to Palermo! Several houses were demolished to make the required space and the fountain was finished in 1581. It has 16 nude figures of humans, nymphs, mermaids and satyrs. Because of the nudity, it was called the Fountain of Shame and some statues were covered with pieces of clothing!Visited May 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 15 April 2024
- alillaboBudapest, Hungary55 contributionsA Stunning Piece of Palermo's HistoryI recently visited Fontana Pretoria in Palermo, and it was an experience that left me in awe. Located in the heart of the city, this is the largest and most impressive fountain in Palermo, and it’s hard to miss. The fountain has an incredible history, being almost 500 years old. It was originally built in 1544 in Florence by the sculptor Francesco Camilliani before being relocated to Palermo. The artistry of the fountain is breathtaking. It’s adorned with statues representing the Twelve Olympians, various mythological figures, animals, and even the rivers of Palermo. Despite being centuries old, the details are remarkably well-preserved, making it a true masterpiece of Renaissance art. One thing to note is that there is no water in the fountain at the moment, but don’t let that deter you. Even without water, the fountain is still an impressive sight and offers a unique glimpse into Palermo's rich cultural heritage. Best of all, it’s free to visit! If you're exploring Palermo, Fontana Pretoria is a must-see. Whether you're a history buff, art lover, or just looking to take in the beauty of the city, this fountain will not disappoint.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 23 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
1,096 reviews
Excellent
597
Very good
416
Average
70
Poor
5
Terrible
8
phat_dawg_21
Alpharetta, GA16,947 contributions
May 2021
This square, just a few meters from Quatro Conti, is in the center of the old city. It is in front of Palazzo Pretorio, which is the City Hall, and is bounded by two additional palaces and a church.
Because of the fountain in the middle, it is locally called "Piazza della Vergogna" which is the Square of Shame.
Because of the fountain in the middle, it is locally called "Piazza della Vergogna" which is the Square of Shame.
Written 30 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul H
Wakefield, UK323 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
I stopped in to this pizzeria mainly because of the smiley and chatty hostess outside, a great selection of pizzas, pastas and traditional meat dishes. Pizzas onbthe other tables look good so I ordered one and it was excellent, tasty and freshly made. Afew nights later I visited again and had a veal dish with was also excellent, I would recommend this place for the great food but also for the great street side location with views of Quattro Canti and the Pretoria fountain but also for the attentive friendlies of the waitresses.
Written 11 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Seeking True Quality
Europe4,803 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Just a few steps from the Quattro Canti, we visited the Piazza Pretoria Square dominated by a grandiose fountain! Our friendly guide told us the extraordinary story of it. The fountain was designed in 1554 in Florence, Tuscany for the Palazzo San Clemente, but in 1573 the Senate of Palermo purchased it and transported it to Palermo! Several houses were demolished to make the required space and the fountain was finished in 1581. It has 16 nude figures of humans, nymphs, mermaids and satyrs. Because of the nudity, it was called the Fountain of Shame and some statues were covered with pieces of clothing!
Written 15 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alillabo
Budapest, Hungary55 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
I recently visited Fontana Pretoria in Palermo, and it was an experience that left me in awe. Located in the heart of the city, this is the largest and most impressive fountain in Palermo, and it’s hard to miss. The fountain has an incredible history, being almost 500 years old. It was originally built in 1544 in Florence by the sculptor Francesco Camilliani before being relocated to Palermo.
The artistry of the fountain is breathtaking. It’s adorned with statues representing the Twelve Olympians, various mythological figures, animals, and even the rivers of Palermo. Despite being centuries old, the details are remarkably well-preserved, making it a true masterpiece of Renaissance art.
One thing to note is that there is no water in the fountain at the moment, but don’t let that deter you. Even without water, the fountain is still an impressive sight and offers a unique glimpse into Palermo's rich cultural heritage.
Best of all, it’s free to visit! If you're exploring Palermo, Fontana Pretoria is a must-see. Whether you're a history buff, art lover, or just looking to take in the beauty of the city, this fountain will not disappoint.
The artistry of the fountain is breathtaking. It’s adorned with statues representing the Twelve Olympians, various mythological figures, animals, and even the rivers of Palermo. Despite being centuries old, the details are remarkably well-preserved, making it a true masterpiece of Renaissance art.
One thing to note is that there is no water in the fountain at the moment, but don’t let that deter you. Even without water, the fountain is still an impressive sight and offers a unique glimpse into Palermo's rich cultural heritage.
Best of all, it’s free to visit! If you're exploring Palermo, Fontana Pretoria is a must-see. Whether you're a history buff, art lover, or just looking to take in the beauty of the city, this fountain will not disappoint.
Written 23 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul C
Shrewsbury, UK161 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
The staff and the location - both excellent. Made up a table for eight people with little notice. Waitress very friendly and helpful. The Manager was very attentive too and wanted us to have a good time. Food was very good and reasonably priced: WELL DONE.
Written 6 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KodoDrummer
Buenos Aires, Argentina70,623 contributions
Jun 2018 • Friends
Unlike most squares, the ground area of Piazza Pretoria (at one time known as the Square of Shame) is predominantly occupied by its famous for its 16th-century water fountain with nude statues. The square was essentially created by demolishing buildings to make way for the fountain. Two of its sides are occupied by high-domed churches, being Santa Caterina (Saint Catherine) and Saint Joseph dei Teatini. Praetorian Palace (aka, the Palace of the Eagles) occupies the third side.
Written 10 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,165 contributions
Feb 2020
The star attraction of the piazza is the wonderfully named, Fountain of Shame.
Built in the 1500s as an extravagant feature for a nobleman’s garden in Florence, it features racy marble sculptures of naked gods and goddesses, mermen, sirens and tritons.
After the nobleman’s death, it was brought to Palermo in 644 pieces and re-assembled here.
Remarkably, someone decided that the best spot for the newly acquired fountain was right outside the windows of the Santa Caterina Church and Convent. This was always going to cause problems (surely, they could have predicted that).
The nuns were appalled but rather than cower behind their windows, they took matters into their own hands and went out to throw clothing over the statues. They weren’t alone in the outrage. The general population was also dismayed and regarded the fountain as scandalous and immoral, hence the nickname.
The fountain is fenced off and we couldn't see any signs for opening hours but the gate was open when we passed by in the morning and we could walk around both tiers of the fountain. It’s free to enter.
The piazza is ringed by several significant buildings. These are:
i) the Town Hall – It’s the one with the flags and the marble eagle just below the central balcony. It was built in the mid-1400s and has had several additions and changes over the centuries.
ii) Palazzo Bonocore – a 16th century building with 3 large arched doorways and open to the public
iii) Palazzo Bordonaro – this has sadly fallen into disrepair and is quite derelict
iv) Church of San Giuseppe dei Teatini with the colourful yellow & green dome
v) Church of Santa Caterina - Dominican nuns lived and worked here from 1311 to 2014. The bakery is still there.
NEARBY – From the fountain, we went along the narrow passageway beside the town hall to Piazza Bellini to look at the 3 churches of Santa Caterina, Martorana and San Cataldo. In the other direction, it is only 2 minutes away from Quattro Canti.
Built in the 1500s as an extravagant feature for a nobleman’s garden in Florence, it features racy marble sculptures of naked gods and goddesses, mermen, sirens and tritons.
After the nobleman’s death, it was brought to Palermo in 644 pieces and re-assembled here.
Remarkably, someone decided that the best spot for the newly acquired fountain was right outside the windows of the Santa Caterina Church and Convent. This was always going to cause problems (surely, they could have predicted that).
The nuns were appalled but rather than cower behind their windows, they took matters into their own hands and went out to throw clothing over the statues. They weren’t alone in the outrage. The general population was also dismayed and regarded the fountain as scandalous and immoral, hence the nickname.
The fountain is fenced off and we couldn't see any signs for opening hours but the gate was open when we passed by in the morning and we could walk around both tiers of the fountain. It’s free to enter.
The piazza is ringed by several significant buildings. These are:
i) the Town Hall – It’s the one with the flags and the marble eagle just below the central balcony. It was built in the mid-1400s and has had several additions and changes over the centuries.
ii) Palazzo Bonocore – a 16th century building with 3 large arched doorways and open to the public
iii) Palazzo Bordonaro – this has sadly fallen into disrepair and is quite derelict
iv) Church of San Giuseppe dei Teatini with the colourful yellow & green dome
v) Church of Santa Caterina - Dominican nuns lived and worked here from 1311 to 2014. The bakery is still there.
NEARBY – From the fountain, we went along the narrow passageway beside the town hall to Piazza Bellini to look at the 3 churches of Santa Caterina, Martorana and San Cataldo. In the other direction, it is only 2 minutes away from Quattro Canti.
Written 28 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sal F
Brussels, Belgium301 contributions
Sept 2020 • Family
Beautiful views with a lot of history in the heart of the city. They’ve also recently opened the fountain for you to stroll around
Written 26 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patrick M
51 contributions
Feb 2016 • Family
Don't do the horse cart riding. They cheat the tourists. We agreed for the price and they said it is about 1 hour riding. They finished in less than an hour and they asked for more. They said we should pay for the horse as well !!
Written 25 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stewart C
Chatham, UK1,110 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
We found the Piazza Pretoria during a one day stopover in Palermo as our ship was docked in the port here. We had opted to explore the city on foot and had prepared our own agenda with points of interest to visit. We discovered the Piazza quite by accident having made our way to the ‘Quattro Canti’ and the Piazza is just off this crossroads.
The Piazza is fairly large and bounded on three sides by some attractive buildings (though the apartments on the left hand side looked a bit ‘run down’), and a narrow passage leads into the Piazza Bellini, however the dominant feature is the marvellous fountain here.
The fountain is in several stages and surrounded by railings to protect it although on the day of our visit these were open to the public. The lowest level has a round bowl of water and on the sides and around its perimeter are some marvellous animal heads of all manner of beasts. (I.e. elephants, cows, fish & horses) squirting water from their mouths and the accuracy and cleanness of the carvings is a pleasure to witness. The second level is reaches via wide stone staircases and these are flanked both top and bottom by life-size statues almost inviting the visitor to climb the stairs. On this level is a smaller bowl of water complete with stone pigeons and rising from the centre a series of cascading bowls.
We can only judge by the day of our visit, but the fountain does not ‘gush’ water from all of its spouts more of a continuous stream, which is a shame as it is always refreshing to walk past a ‘lively’ fountain and get the cooling effect from drops of water vapour. We later read that the fountain is designed to show the major Greek Gods and other mythological figures. The lower level represents various animals and the rivers of Palermo. We also discovered later that the fountain was originally erected in Florence finding its way to Palermo in the 16th century.
If you are visiting Palermo and you are in the rea of the Quattro Canti or on the Via Vittorio Emanuele then, we would definitely suggest taking a trip here.
The Piazza is fairly large and bounded on three sides by some attractive buildings (though the apartments on the left hand side looked a bit ‘run down’), and a narrow passage leads into the Piazza Bellini, however the dominant feature is the marvellous fountain here.
The fountain is in several stages and surrounded by railings to protect it although on the day of our visit these were open to the public. The lowest level has a round bowl of water and on the sides and around its perimeter are some marvellous animal heads of all manner of beasts. (I.e. elephants, cows, fish & horses) squirting water from their mouths and the accuracy and cleanness of the carvings is a pleasure to witness. The second level is reaches via wide stone staircases and these are flanked both top and bottom by life-size statues almost inviting the visitor to climb the stairs. On this level is a smaller bowl of water complete with stone pigeons and rising from the centre a series of cascading bowls.
We can only judge by the day of our visit, but the fountain does not ‘gush’ water from all of its spouts more of a continuous stream, which is a shame as it is always refreshing to walk past a ‘lively’ fountain and get the cooling effect from drops of water vapour. We later read that the fountain is designed to show the major Greek Gods and other mythological figures. The lower level represents various animals and the rivers of Palermo. We also discovered later that the fountain was originally erected in Florence finding its way to Palermo in the 16th century.
If you are visiting Palermo and you are in the rea of the Quattro Canti or on the Via Vittorio Emanuele then, we would definitely suggest taking a trip here.
Written 16 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bom dia. Gostaria de saber qual a rua ou avenida principal de Palermo,que é bom para passear com lojas,restaurantes,bares. Obrigada
Written 13 July 2017
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