This octagonal square, called Teatro del Sole (Sun Theatre), lies at the crossroads of two of the most important streets in Palermo: via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
These four corners were built in order to divide the town into four districts and also because of the erection of a new road: via Maqueda.
The monument was built in 1661 in baroque style. Each coin of the square is divided into three orders. Starting from the lowest one, different characters are represented:
– statues portraying the four seasons;
– the Spanish kings Charles V, Philip II, Philip IV and Philip III;
– the four patron saints of the town: St. Cristina, St. Ninfa, St. Oliva and St. Agata; each saint is considered patron of the district behind her.
