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Quattro Canti (Four Corners) is not just an intersection; it is one of Palermo's most important and memorable sights, serving as the dramatic, architectural heart of the city. We passed by it many times, and every single time the energy was different—it's a place of constant movement and life.
The site is technically Piazza Vigliena, a small octagonal square formed by the intersection of the two main historic streets, Via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Emanuele. The four corner facades are magnificent examples of Palermitan Baroque, each one carved into a harmonious, curved space.
The four buildings are decorated in four tiers:
Fountains representing the four seasons.
Statues of the four Spanish kings of Sicily.
Statues of the four patron saints of the ancient quarters of Palermo (Agata, Ninfa, Oliva, and Cristina).
What makes the Quattro Canti so special is that it acts as the city's living stage. Every time we passed through, there was something else happening—from street performances and singing to small public events. It truly feels like the pulse of Palermo, where the life of the city flows in every direction.
It's an essential photo stop and a fantastic place to simply pause, look up at the soaring architecture, and soak up the ever-changing, vibrant atmosphere of the Sicilian capital.