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 H
    Wakefield, United Kingdom327 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Fresh Food
    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.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written April 11, 2024
  • Seeking True Quality
    Europe4,803 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    What 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 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 15, 2024
  • alillabo
    Budapest, Hungary55 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Stunning Piece of Palermo's History
    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.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 23, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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phat_dawg_21
Alpharetta, GA16,977 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
Written July 30, 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, UK327 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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 April 11, 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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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 April 15, 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
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
Written August 23, 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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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 May 6, 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.

Julia
Trencin, Slovakia96 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
The fountain is very nice and definitely worth seeing when visiting Palermo. Too bad the fountain didn't work and that there is a fence (although I understand someone could damage it). The entire square is surrounded by beautiful buildings.
Google
Written September 16, 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, Argentina70,626 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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 March 10, 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 Kingdom11,217 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
Written October 28, 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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 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 September 26, 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
1.0 of 5 bubbles
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 February 25, 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.

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Piazza Pretoria - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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