News from Italy
Secrets of the city: Fountain of Shame
Step by step Italy with Vita gazette: its treasures, secrets, legends, and fascinating places.
Located in the heart of historic Palermo, a stone’s throw from the Quattro Canti and the church of San Giuseppe dei Teatini, the Fontana Pretoria, also known as the Fountain of Shame, is a captivating sight. This unique fountain, which arrived in Palermo on May 26 1574, was dismantled into 644 pieces, some of which were missing. The journey to its current location was not without its challenges, with some sculptures being damaged during transport and others being retained by the owner.
Piazza Pretoria, also known as “Piazza della Shame,” is a fountain and a majestic symbol of Palermo. With its rich history and intriguing story, this masterpiece stands as the heart of Piazza, beckoning everybody.
Our voyage of exploration commenced in the alluring south of Italy, where we immersed ourselves in the enthralling history of this site, nestled in one of Sicily’s most picturesque cities. Step by step, we unveiled the intriguing tale of Piazza Pretoria, a journey that we eagerly invite you to embark upon.
But why is it called the “Square of Shame?” This is undoubtedly the first question that visitors ask.
The fountain of shame, originally intended for the palace of San Clemente in Florence, embarked on a fascinating journey to Palermo. It was a testament to their grandeur, commissioned by Luigi, brother of García Álvarez, the future ruler of Sicily. However, upon the customer’s death, his son decided to sell it. The fountain was then divided into 644 pieces, some of which were missing, and packaged for its voyage. It finally arrived in Palermo on May 26, 1574, where it was adapted to the space by adding new pieces.
The square, which took its current shape in the 16th century, has a rich historical significance. The Senate of Palermo, located in the square, purchased a large fountain carved from Carrara marble by the architect Francesco Camilliani to decorate the once-empty space. The nickname Square of Shame came shortly after the fountain’s presentation and was thought to derive from the nudity of the statues adorning it. In reality, this name, although associated with the fountain, is not related to the nakedness of the statues but to the exorbitant sum of twenty thousand scudi (eight thousand onze) that the Senate of Palermo had to pay to purchase them. Considering the historical poverty, epidemics and famine of those years, the people of Palermo can be seen shouting ‘Shame, Shame’ as members of the Senate left the building.
Fontana Pretoria, an excellent example of the Tuscan Renaissance, ostentatiously welcomes visitors with its dominant presence throughout the square. The monumental complex, rich in Carrara marble statues, has three levels full of symbolic meaning.
At first glance, small bridges, statues, marble railings, and water pools catch the eye. In the middle is a hull of three boats positioned one above the other, from which emerges a marble shaft supporting a fertile putto, the mythological symbol of food and fertility. Crossing the waters of the pools, we find the gods of Olympus, allegorical figures of the rivers Palermo, Oreto, Papireto, Gabriele and Maredolce, numerous statues of men and women, pagan gods and animal heads.
The fountain is surrounded by elegant balustrades, interrupted by four large entrances on the first row or floor, each marked by two “termi” statues, gigantic male and female figures.
In the second row are numerous fish ponds with six niches, each decorated with animal heads. At the edge of every fish pond is a large pool. At the edge of this pool is a giant statue representing a river, and on either side are numerous statues of Tritons, Nereids, and Sirens.
In the middle of the second order is a large pool, from which two sea monsters emerge holding the first cup, around which are four marble geese. The stele on the fountain is supported by four turtles, symbols of the transition between sky and earth. As it is known, the pedestal symbolises Noah’s ark, where all animal species are located, and the second floor symbolises the heavenly Jerusalem.
On the third level, there is a smaller pool dominated by the statue of Bacchus. The poet Antonio Veneziano from Monreal, who was entrusted with reinterpreting the mythological aspects of the work in a local key, identified the statue above as the Genius of Palermo, the city’s tutelary deity, and Santa Rosalia.
Camilliani was probably inspired by Bernini, who, about a hundred years later, in Rome, in Piazza Navona, created the fountain of the four rivers. In it, four statues depict the principal rivers of four continents: the Ganges for Asia, the Rio della Plata for America, the Danube for Europe, and the Nile for Africa.
Buildings around
One of these is Palazzo Bordonaro, the work of the architect Giovanni Del Frago in the 16th century, which separates the square from the Quattro Canti of which it is a part.
Next to Bordonaro is Palazzo Bonocore. This palace, dating back to the 16th century, houses Le Oasi delle Identità, a museum dedicated to Sicily’s intangible cultural heritage, events, and exhibitions.
The other side of Palazzo Bonocore is the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Egypt, and the adjacent monastery. Founded in 1300, this church hosted women in prostitution, but by the end of the 16th century, it became one of the city’s main monasteries.
Surrounding the fountain is Palazzo Pretorio, one of the most exciting buildings in this unique square. Dating back to the fifteenth century, it stands as a testament to the city’s rich history. The eagle symbol of the city of Palermo is proudly located at the entrance of this building, a symbol of the city’s strength and resilience.
Last is the church of San Giuseppe of the Teatini Fathers. It is a majestic and monumental church, part of the Quattro Canti, built-in 1602, to the design of the Neapolitan Theatine architect Pietro Caracciolo. Its dome overlooks the dominant Piazza Pretoria.
