Quattro Canti Square

Welcome to the very heart of Palermo! Officially it’s Piazza Vigliena, but everyone calls it Quattro Canti : the “Four Corners.”

The name refers to the exact intersection of the city’s two main streets, Via Maqueda and the Cassaro.At first glance it looks like just another crossroads, but lift your eyes and you’ll see something extraordinary: four curved baroque façades forming a real open-air stage set. Built in the 17th century by the Florentine architect Giulio Lasso, the place was designed to give Palermo a proper baroque heart. And every detail is symbolic.

At street level you’ll spot the four seasons, a nod to the natural cycle of life. Just above them stand four Spanish kings who once ruled Sicily in the 16th and 17th centuries, representing worldly power.

And at the very top, four female figures: the patron saints of Palermo: Saint Oliva, Saint Ninfa, Saint Cristina and Saint Agata, watching over the city. It’s like a vertical journey, from earth to power to heaven. Locals also call it the “theatre of the sun,” because throughout the day each façade lights up in turn.

Even today, it’s a favorite meeting spot for Palermitans. Take a moment, look around, and imagine the processions that once crossed this stage. This is one of the most iconic places in Palermo.