Quattro Canti (Piazza Vigliena)

Quattro Canti, officially Piazza Vigliena, is the octagonal crossroads at the centre of Palermo's historic centre in Sicily, where Via Maqueda crosses Corso Vittorio Emanuele. It was laid out in the early 17th century under Spanish rule and divides the old city into its four traditional quarters. Each of the four concave facades follows the same plan on three storeys. The lowest level carries a fountain with a statue representing one of the four seasons, the middle level carries a statue of a Spanish king, and the top level carries one of the city's patron saints. The effect is a stage-like Baroque set piece that was designed to be seen from the centre of the intersection. Visitors stand in the middle of the crossing, where traffic is limited, and turn slowly to take in all four facades, which is the standard way to see the square. The visit itself is short, usually 10 to 20 minutes, and it works best as a pause on a walk rather than a destination. The surrounding streets lead to Piazza Pretoria and the Fontana Pretoria two minutes away, to the Cathedral along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, and to Teatro Massimo along Via Maqueda. The square is a public crossroads open at all hours and free of charge. Late afternoon light warms the stone and brings out the sculpted detail, and the facades are lit after dark. Midday is the busiest time, when tour groups gather, while early morning is the quietest. Pedestrians should watch for scooters and delivery vehicles on the connecting streets, and photographers will find the best angles from the corners of the crossing rather than from the pavement edges.