Piazza Pretoria (Pretoria Square), Palermo
In the exact center of historic Palermo is the Pretoria Square. In 1573 the senate of the city bought a fountain. Originally intended for a private garden in Florence, it was shipped piecemeal to Palermo. It didn't fit. Some buildings around the square were demolished to accommodate the fountain. There is little wiggle room left in the square.
Three sides of the square are enclosed by buildings. There is the Praetorian Palace (the town hall), which lends its name to the Square. It is also called the Palace of the Eagles. The palace was built between 1463 and 1478. It has a Renaissance Revival-Neoclassical appearance. It houses mayoral offices and weapons of the Napoleonic wars.
The Church of Saint Catherine borders the square and it is between the Pretoria Square and the Bellini Square. The appearance of the church is a mixture of Sicilian Baroque, Rococo and Renaissance elements. Two baronial manses also squeeze up to the square. They are the Bonocore Palce and Bordonarao Palace.
The remaining, fourth side of the square holds a descending staircase to Maqueda Street.
Three sides of the square are enclosed by buildings. There is the Praetorian Palace (the town hall), which lends its name to the Square. It is also called the Palace of the Eagles. The palace was built between 1463 and 1478. It has a Renaissance Revival-Neoclassical appearance. It houses mayoral offices and weapons of the Napoleonic wars.
The Church of Saint Catherine borders the square and it is between the Pretoria Square and the Bellini Square. The appearance of the church is a mixture of Sicilian Baroque, Rococo and Renaissance elements. Two baronial manses also squeeze up to the square. They are the Bonocore Palce and Bordonarao Palace.
The remaining, fourth side of the square holds a descending staircase to Maqueda Street.
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Piazza Pretoria (Pretoria Square) on Map
Sight Name: Piazza Pretoria (Pretoria Square)
Sight Location: Palermo, Italy (See walking tours in Palermo)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Palermo, Italy (See walking tours in Palermo)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Palermo, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Palermo
Creating your own self-guided walk in Palermo is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Religious Buildings
Religion has always played an important role in the lives of the Italians – and the Sicilians are no exception. Thus, it is little wonder that the main city of the island, Palermo, boasts a plethora of religious buildings. The collection of historical churches found here ranges from the Arab-Norman-Byzantine to the Medieval, Gothic, Baroque and the Renaissance.
In the course of history, many... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
In the course of history, many... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Palermo Introduction Walking Tour
Around 8,000 BC, people called Sicani drew pictures in a cave outside Palermo. The scene shows a ritual sacrifice in the theatre. Was it a paleolithic foreshadowing of the temples, churches, and cathedrals to come?
The Sicani were succeeded by the Phoenicians. They made a settlement called Ziz which eventually became Palermo. But first, the Greeks, followed by the Carthaginians, followed by the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
The Sicani were succeeded by the Phoenicians. They made a settlement called Ziz which eventually became Palermo. But first, the Greeks, followed by the Carthaginians, followed by the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Palaces of Palermo
For centuries, Sicilian capital Palermo has been a focal point for the construction of noble dwellings and palaces. The latter were and still are a fine manifestation of the historical life in the region. They are a few hundred of them still in place, ranging chronologically from the medieval period to the first decades of the 20th century, and comprising an impressive collection of architectural... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles