Piazza della Minerva - Piazzas of Italy by Ultimate Italy

Piazza Vigliena or Quattro Canti

Piazza Vigliena or Quattro Canti as it is commonly referred to is in the heart of the old city center in Palermo. This square is located in the crossroads of the two main streets in Palermo: Via Vittorio Emmanuelle and Via Maqueda. They divide Palermo into four parts which are called ‘mandamenti”. Four hundred years ago the original four quarters: Albergheria, Capo, Vucciria and La Kalsa were separate entities.

The Florentine architect Guilio Lasso designed this square in the center of Palermo.

This eight-sided piazza is actually a crossroad (hence the name Quattro Canti) and is one of Sicily’s earliest examples of the baroque style. It is also a prime example of architectural town planning in Europe. After the death of Lasso Mariano Smiriglio, the official architect of the Palermo Senate completed the piazza

Piazza Vigliena as it is officially called was built between 1608-1620 by Lasso under the orders of the Viceroy de Cardines, the Duke of Maqueda. There are four seventeenth century palaces in baroque style at the four corners of the square. Their nearly identical façade form a convex shape facing the square. They rise to a level of four floors. The third and fourth floors contain statues in the niches. There are four fountains with statues, representing the four seasons, the four Spanish kings of Sicily (Charles V, Philip II. Philip III and Philip IV) and the four Patron Saints of Palermo: Santa Christina, Santa Ninfa, Sant’Olivia and Sant’Agata. The fountains rise to the height of the second floor. A collective of talented sculptors of that era including D’Aprile, La Mattina and Tedeschi has executed all these sculptures. Originally these sculptures were pearl coloured. However despite the modern travails of dust, grime and smog they still appear magnificent to behold.