Fontana Pretoria: Palermo's Controversial Masterpiece

Piazza Pretoria is located at the edge of the Kalsa district, near the intersection of Cassaro and Via Maqueda, a few steps from the Quattro Canti. The centerpiece of this piazza is the Fontana Pretoria, a large and elaborate fountain that has become one of Palermo's most iconic landmarks. Originally created in 1554 by Francesco Camilliani for a Florentine villa, the fountain was purchased by the Senate of Palermo in 1573 to embellish the city. The fountain was moved to Palermo and reassembled in 1574. The fountain features multiple concentric rings divided by water basins, adorned with staircases and marble balustrades. At the center, a shaft supports a statue of a putto with a cornucopia. The fountain also features statues of mythological figures, gods, and goddesses. The fountain's nude statues caused controversy when it was first erected, leading locals to dub it the "Fountain of Shame". Some say the name arose from the Palermitans being scandalized by the nudity of the statues. Other legends suggest the name came from the amount of money the Palermo Senate spent to purchase the fountain. Despite the initial controversy, the Fontana Pretoria is now admired as a masterpiece of High Renaissance art and a symbol of Palermo.