Magnificent Baroque square Quattro Canti in Palermo by Silva Wischeropp

I discovered this architectural highlight on 21 April 2022 in the early afternoon during my Easter photography trip to the magical southern Italian island of Sicily. The photo was taken with a NIKON D800 camera (lens: NIKKOR 50.0 mm f/1.4).The Quattro Canti (Piazza Vigliena) is a magnificent octagonal Baroque square in the historic centre of Palermo. Located at the intersection of Via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Emanuele, it captivates with four symmetrical, concave façades decorated with statues, fountains and columns. Known as the "Teatro del Sole" (Sun Theatre), it is considered the heart of the city and connects the four ancient districts.

The Quattro Canti in Palermo has become famous among photographers from all over the world. And it's not even about the square itself, but rather the four corners when you look up at the sky above the island of Sicily. Mopeds rattle by, traders hawk their wares at the market, and streams of tourists move through the alleys.
One of the most impressive squares in Palermo is the Quattro Canti, also known as Piazza Vigliena. It is located in the old town, at the intersection of the two main axes Via Maqueda and Via Vittorio Emanuele, and forms the centre of the four historic districts of the Sicilian capital. Each of the four curved façades is dedicated to one of these districts and features sculptures of the four seasons, four Spanish kings and four patron saints of Palermo.

The square was built between 1608 and 1620 under Spanish rule. The aim was to create the new centre of Palermo and connect the four districts with a representative square. The richly decorated Baroque façades were originally part of residential and administrative buildings. As light falls on one corner façade at all times of the day, the square is also known as the Teatro del Sole (Theatre of the Sun).