Fontana Pretoria

Is good to see, currently the location of the fountain has lots of repair works going on around it on the buildings. Will probably be completed by summer. Worth viewing if you pass it (which you will) but I wouldn’t make a special trip just for this monument.

Sadly in renovations right now but you can still get a glimpse of how amazing it must be! Very detailed statues made out of Carrara marble and the fountain is incredibly large too! At its top you can find the protector saint of Palermo, Santa Rosalia. It consists of 644 pieces shipped from Florence to Palermo.

The Pretoria Fountain is a masterpiece of Renaissance art that has been both lauded and reviled since its inception. This beautiful fountain, often dubbed the "Fountain of Shame" by locals due to its numerous nude sculptures, exemplifies the city's rich heritage and creative flare. Originally designed for a Florentine nobleman's private gardens, the fountain underwent considerable changes after being acquired by the Palermo Senate in 1574. Its transfer to the center of the city, Piazza Pretoria, sparked both appreciation and criticism. The abundance of naked images portraying gods, goddesses, nymphs, and legendary animals sparked concern among Palermo's more conservative people. The fountain's elaborate form, which consists of three concentric circular basins, is a masterwork of late Renaissance sculpture with clear Florentine influences. The highest basin is the smallest, and the lowermost is the largest. The ensemble is decorated with various statues and smaller fountains, resulting in a visually magnificent display. Visitors can freely observe this prominent sight at any time of day or night. However, daylight hours provide the best circumstances for observing the complex features of the sculptures. As evening falls, the fountain is lighted in a most fascinating way, casting a mystical spell over its watchers.

Beautiful outdoor fountain just off the main streets at four corners. Currently has no water.

**Fontana Pretoria**, also known as the **Fountain of Shame**, is one of the most striking landmarks in **Palermo**, Sicily. Located in **Piazza Pretoria**, this monumental fountain was designed by the Florentine architect **Francesco Camilliani** and completed in 1574. The fountain is an excellent example of Renaissance art and architecture, though its provocative and bold design often leads to it being referred to as the "Fountain of Shame." The fountain features a series of intricately sculpted statues, including depictions of gods, goddesses, mythological figures, and nymphs, all carved from white marble. At its center is a large basin surrounded by multiple levels, with water cascading down in a dramatic and elegant display. The sculptures and elaborate decoration reflect both the aesthetic grandeur of the period and the symbolic themes of classical mythology. The fountain earned the nickname "Fountain of Shame" due to its exposed nude statues, which some considered scandalous for the time. However, over the centuries, it has become a symbol of Palermo’s rich cultural and artistic history. Today, **Fontana Pretoria** is a popular tourist attraction and an integral part of the city's historic center. It stands as a stunning example of Renaissance art and remains one of Palermo’s most iconic and photographed sites.

Beautiful ornate and elaborate fountain right in the heart of Palermo. Depending on the hour the light shifts but any time of the day, or evening is worth stoping by.

Fontana Pretoria is located in front of Santa Caterina. Unfortunately when we got there, it was under renovation so it wasn't working. Apart from that it was beautiful.

Very busy area. Very cool place to visit despite many parking restrictions and a lack of parking space around.

"The Fountain of Shame" because a number of the statues here are rather undressed. The "Praetorian Fountain" was originally created for the garden of don Luigi de Toledo of Florence in 1551. In 1573, the fountain was sold to the city of Palermo and reinstalled after it was moved. A restoration was completed in 2003. According to our tour guide, a recent Dolce & Gabbana runway took place here. Which I would totally understand as the Piazza is quite lovely. Well worth a stop to check it out and photograph. [Review 12821 overall, 136 of 2020.]

We found this gorgeous fountain as we walked along the Via Maqueda. It is a very busy area filled with tourists most every day. There are horse drawn carriages that you can rent for a very nice ride to see area located right on the street.

I liked it. Yeah the area has a gritty look at everything but that's life isnt it? I believe this is called the Fountain of Shame. A few strides away is Quadro Canti or the four corners. You cannot and should not miss this monument. It is across the town hall which you can visit as well. The guards were really nice and let us in to take a look (and use the facilities of course ) :D

I'm only giving three stars because it was Sicily! If you are planning a trip to Sicily I would say skip Palarmo. Although it was rich with history it was very dirty everything had graffiti a lot of the historical monuments, statues, buildings etc. were either broken or unkept it was just not what I expected