One of the most famous symbols of the city of Palermo, along with the Teatro Massimo, is undoubtedly the Pretoria fountain, one of the most beautiful fountains in Italy. It is a true masterpiece of Italian Renaissance art that has a very particular history.
Born in Florence and then bought by the Senate of the city of Palermo in 1581. There are many legends about this fountain still called by the citizens of Palermo the fountain of shame.
Fontana Pretoria in Palermo, what is it and where is it located?
The fountain Pretoria in Palermo is one of the most representative symbols of the Sicilian city and is located in the historic center of Palermo. In particular, it is located inside the square where the Praetorian Palace is located. Today this majestic fountain is one of the most appreciated attractions and visited by tourists who come to the Sicilian capital from all over the world.
Undoubtedly it has been a matter of discussion in the past as the Senate decided to spend a lot of money to buy this Florentine opera.
The history of the Pretoria fountain in Palermo
The Pretoria fountain in Palermo has a particular story that deserves to be told. In fact, one thing that perhaps not everyone knows is that the fountain was initially designed and built in Tuscany. It all began in the second half of 1500 when Don Luigi Toledo decided to embellish the garden of his villa in Florence with a monumental fountain.
He was the brother of Duchess Eleonora of Toledo and the father-in-law of Cosimo I de Medici. The construction of this masterpiece of Italian Renaissance art was made by Francesco Camilliani and Michelangelo Naccherino and included statues depicting mythological characters and putti.
After his death his son, overwhelmed by debts, decided to sell the majestic work. This was purchased by the Senate of Palermo who decided to place it in front of the Praetorian Palace. The fountain was dismantled and then transported with ships to Palermo where it was then reassembled under the supervision of the son of Camilliani who completed the intervention in 1581.
Foto : Unsplash
Fontana Pretoria in Palermo, what to see
The fountain has an elliptical plan and the circuit has a total length of 133 meters. The first level of the fountain is surrounded by elegant balustrades that are interrupted by the four large entrances. In the second level there are four large pools at the edges of which are placed 4 statues that once depicted the Arno and its tributaries while now represent the four rivers of the city of Palermo.
Through four steps you reach the third level of the fountain. In the center is placed a column on which is placed a putto that pours water. Around there are statues representing different mythological figures such as Venus, Adonis, Hercules, Bacchus, Apollo and Diana.
On the square where there is the fountain Pretoria there are also other important buildings of Palermo.
The first is the Palazzo Bordonaro, built in the 16th century, next to which is the Palazzo Bonocore from the same period. Inside there is the multimedia museum L’Oasi delle identità dedicated to the Sicilian intangible cultural heritage.
Another important building overlooking Piazza Pretoria is the church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria in Egypt. Attached to this is the monastery. It was founded in 1300 and in the sixteenth
century became one of the most important cloistered monasteries in the city. The most impressive building of the square is the Praetorian Palace which is the seat of the town hall. This was built in the fifteenth century and on its entrance door is the eagle symbol of Palermo. Finally, on the square of the fountain Pretoria there is also the church of San Giuseppe dei padri Teatini built in 1602 to a design by the Neapolitan architect Pietro Caracciolo.
Legends about the Pretoria fountain in Palermo
There are many legends and stories behind the Pretoria fountain in Palermo. The first concerns the name that is still given to this fountain, or fountain of shame. There are two main reasons one of which concerns the nakedness of the statues.
In this regard there is also a legend that tells of the fact that one night the nuns of the convent scandalized by the obscenity of the statues damaged them. A second reason is political. In fact, the monument is located in front of the town hall and therefore would be a denunciation of the corruption of the political class that has always been one of the greatest risks for the city.
Copertina: Unsplash
