Cities
Italy Palermo Sicily Historical Landmark

Fontana Pretoria

About

The Fontana Pretoria is one of Palermo’s most striking and theatrical monuments, dominating the square in front of the city’s Town Hall with its dazzling display of white marble. Originally crafted in the 16th century for a Florentine villa, the fountain was later transported to Sicily, where its grand scale and bold sculptural programme transformed the urban landscape. Its circular terraces are adorned with mythological figures, nymphs, river gods, and allegories, all arranged around a central basin that creates a sense of movement and harmony. Locals once nicknamed it the “Fountain of Shame” because of the abundance of nude statues, an unusual sight in a deeply religious city, yet today this very feature contributes to its charm and fame. Surrounded by historic palaces and the Church of Santa Caterina, Fontana Pretoria stands as a symbol of Palermo’s Renaissance ambition, blending artistic virtuosity with the lively atmosphere of the surrounding streets.

Palermo Italy
Fontana Pretoria
Location

Fontana Pretoria graces Piazza Pretoria in the heart of Palermo's historic centre, anchoring the vibrant Kalsa quarter just one block south of the iconic Quattro Canti crossroads. This grand Renaissance fountain, known locally as the Fountain of Shame for its nude statues, dominates the square in front of Palazzo Pretorio, the municipal hall. Nearby rise the majestic domes of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria and San Giuseppe dei Teatini churches, with quick strolls along Via Maqueda leading to Palermo Cathedral, Ballarò market, and the Norman Palace. ​

Archaeological Museum Antonio Salinas Archaeological Museum Antonio Salinas Museum Palazzo Abatellis Palazzo Abatellis Museum Modern Art Gallery Sant'Anna Modern Art Gallery Sant'Anna Museum Sicilian Ethnographic Museum Giuseppe Pitrè Sicilian Ethnographic Museum Giuseppe Pitrè Museum Museo internazionale delle marionette Antonio Pasqualino Museo internazionale delle marionette Antonio Pasqualino Museum Rooms at the Museum of Majolica Genius Rooms at the Museum of Majolica Genius Museum Museo Diocesano Palermo Museo Diocesano Palermo Museum Pinacoteca Villa Zito Pinacoteca Villa Zito Museum Museo del Risorgimento Palermo Museo del Risorgimento Palermo Museum No Mafia Memorial No Mafia Memorial Museum Museo Falcone‑Borsellino presso il Tribunale di Palermo Museo Falcone‑Borsellino presso il Tribunale di Palermo Museum Ecomuseo Mare Memoria Viva Ecomuseo Mare Memoria Viva Museum Museum of Geology “G. G. Gemmellaro Museum of Geology “G. G. Gemmellaro Museum Città delle Illusioni Città delle Illusioni Museum Palazzo Asmundo Palazzo Asmundo Museum Palazzo Butera Palazzo Butera Museum Palazzo Alliata Villafranca Palazzo Alliata Villafranca Museum Palazzo dei Normanni Palazzo dei Normanni Museum Teatro Massimo di Palermo Teatro Massimo di Palermo Theatre Teatro Politeama Garibaldi Teatro Politeama Garibaldi Theatre Teatro Biondo Stabile Teatro Biondo Stabile Theatre Teatro Santa Cecilia Teatro Santa Cecilia Theatre Teatro Libero Teatro Libero Theatre RizzutoGallery RizzutoGallery Gallery Francesco Pantaleone Arte contemporanea Francesco Pantaleone Arte contemporanea Gallery Palazzo della Cuba Palazzo della Cuba Museum Zisa Palace Zisa Palace Castle Palazzo Chiaramonte-Steri Palazzo Chiaramonte-Steri Castle Castello di Maredolce Castello di Maredolce Castle Palazzo Gravina di Comitini Palazzo Gravina di Comitini Historical Landmark Palazzo Celestri di Santacroce Palazzo Celestri di Santacroce Museum Palermo Cathedral Palermo Cathedral Cathedral Basilica della Magione Basilica della Magione Basilica Church of Jesus of Casa Professa Church of Jesus of Casa Professa Church Church of Saint Mary 'dell'Ammiraglio' Church of Saint Mary 'dell'Ammiraglio' Church Chiesa e Monastero di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria Chiesa e Monastero di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria Church Church of Saint Cataldo Church of Saint Cataldo Church Church of Saint John of the Hermits Church of Saint John of the Hermits Church Chiesa di San Domenico Chiesa di San Domenico Church Church of the Immaculate Conception Church of the Immaculate Conception Church Chiesa del Carmine Maggiore Chiesa del Carmine Maggiore Church Quattro Canti Quattro Canti Historical Landmark Porta Nuova Porta Nuova Historical Landmark Porta Felice Porta Felice Historical Landmark Ponte dell'Ammiraglio Ponte dell'Ammiraglio Bridge Albero Falcone Albero Falcone Memorial Orto Botanico di Palermo Orto Botanico di Palermo Botanical Garden Parco Piersanti Mattarella Parco Piersanti Mattarella Park Giardino Garibaldi Giardino Garibaldi Park Parco d'Orleans Parco d'Orleans Park Giardino Rosa Balistreri Giardino Rosa Balistreri Garden Giardino dei Giusti Giardino dei Giusti Garden Giardino della Zisa Giardino della Zisa Garden Parco di Villa Tasca Parco di Villa Tasca Park Planetario di Palermo Planetario di Palermo Planetarium Palermo Astronomical Observatory Palermo Astronomical Observatory Observatory