Fontana della Vergogna
Fontana della Vergogna
4.5
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Neighbourhood: Tribunali
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4.5
2,383 reviews
Excellent
1,356
Very good
814
Average
185
Poor
25
Terrible
3
Blue J
Havre de Grace, MD765 contributions
July 2021
Sadly the fountain was fenced off and not flowing during our July 2021 visit. Even so this fountain built in Florence and sold to Palermo to pay off a debt is emblematic of everything you would expect from the genius Renaissance artists. It is such a statement piece.
There are so many theories about why it is called the fountain of shame. I think the stories about the nun and her issue with nudity is my favorite, but it is worth reading various accounts for the fountain of shame moniker.
We all wanted to see the fountain doing what fountains do but there wasn't a drop of water. Perhaps the fountain was shut down for Covid protocols but we never did find out why it wasn't operating. The fountain is easily accessed within the historic center of Palermo and is definitely worth visiting in the day as well in the evening.
It's truly amazing viewing all the figures and details of this fountain. I wish we still had the creativity of those Renaissance masters.
There are so many theories about why it is called the fountain of shame. I think the stories about the nun and her issue with nudity is my favorite, but it is worth reading various accounts for the fountain of shame moniker.
We all wanted to see the fountain doing what fountains do but there wasn't a drop of water. Perhaps the fountain was shut down for Covid protocols but we never did find out why it wasn't operating. The fountain is easily accessed within the historic center of Palermo and is definitely worth visiting in the day as well in the evening.
It's truly amazing viewing all the figures and details of this fountain. I wish we still had the creativity of those Renaissance masters.
Written 10 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jazzumbo
Romania2,122 contributions
June 2020
I'm trying to figure out the reaction of the people of Palermo in 1581 when this amazing fountain, delivered from Florence, was completed and displayed to public. They were probably too shocked by the nudity of the statues if they called such beauty The Fountain of Shame.
The story of the fountain is as interesting as the fountain itself.
A must view while in Palermo.
Unfortunately, some of the buildings around the fountain seem to be sadly neglected.
The story of the fountain is as interesting as the fountain itself.
A must view while in Palermo.
Unfortunately, some of the buildings around the fountain seem to be sadly neglected.
Written 7 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlexSwallow
Sheffield, UK1,656 contributions
Jan 2020
Loved this amazing fountain, the animal sculptures were particularly interesting.
It is great that you can walk right up and over it- and as it is so central in the city it is very easy to get there as a tourist or regularly walk past it if you live there.
The square it is situated in, is just by the Four Corners and there are lots of beautiful churches very close.
It is great that you can walk right up and over it- and as it is so central in the city it is very easy to get there as a tourist or regularly walk past it if you live there.
The square it is situated in, is just by the Four Corners and there are lots of beautiful churches very close.
Written 4 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phat_dawg_21
Alpharetta, GA16,948 contributions
May 2021
This monument is the centerpiece of Piazza Pretoria. It was originally intended for a garden at a Pallazzo in Florence, but when people objected to the lifelike detail of some of the statues, the owner, who was deeply in debt, decided to sell it. It was purchased by the city and brought to Palermo.
Some of the statues were broken or “lost” in transit, so what you see here is not what the sculptor Francesco Camilliani intended.
Some of the statues were broken or “lost” in transit, so what you see here is not what the sculptor Francesco Camilliani intended.
Written 30 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sally62
Northampton, UK5,865 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Beautiful fountain in the city centre with walkways on two levels although the upper level was closed off when we visited this time. Built in 16th century, it has over 50 statues and the four sections represent the seasons. Also known as the Fountain of Shame due to the naked statues that offended people at the time.
Written 21 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Canadian Traveller
Kelowna, Canada101 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
This is a fountain that rivals the fountains in Rome and Florence. The statues and write ups give you lots of information. There is a church next door that you can climb up to the roof and get a Birds Eye view. It is fenced off and when I went there was no running water.
Written 27 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angelo Z
Crawford, TX333 contributions
Jan 2024 • Friends
The fountain and historic plaza make for a good read before going and in my opinion are a must see. The fountain has many statues made from the famous white marble.
Imported from Florence. The fountain was very controversial in its day.
Was called the Fountain of Shame.
Imported from Florence. The fountain was very controversial in its day.
Was called the Fountain of Shame.
Written 2 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
traveltheglobe
Singapore, Singapore772 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Fascinating story behind the infamous name given to this fountain. Also quite bizarre about how some buildings had to be demolished to make way for the fountain. And some missteps in early planning explain why some of the sculptures look like they’re placed haphazardly. Lovely piazza in the heart of the city. When you’re here, don’t miss the City Hall and the Santa Caterina cathedral.
Written 25 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KodoDrummer
Buenos Aires, Argentina70,623 contributions
June 2018 • Friends
Located in Piazza Pretoria, also known as Piazza della Vergogna (The Square of Shame), the 16th-century circular fountain contains mostly nude statues of men, ladies (The term generally used is not gender correct/polite, so I changed it to “ladies.” Why do many people use an unkind term for nude women, and not for nude men?), mermaids, animals, and beasts of Greek mythology, satyrs, and more. The fountain set is an amazing work of art. I like most of the sculptures. My favourites were the sculptures of the women, the lioness, and the water spouting heads of the animals and beasts.
Written 11 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michele Amico🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
Caltanissetta, Italy2,967 contributions
Sept 2019 • Family
In the historical downtown of Palermo city there are a lot of monuments and attractions, Piazze della Verona is a special place.
Written 20 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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