The fountain dominates the piazza on the west flank of the church of Santa Caterina, and is one block south of the intersection of the Quattro Canti.

[1] Previously the plot of this garden in Florence belonged to the nuns of San Domenico al Maglio[2] and, after a lot of pressure, was obtained in 1551.

The creation of this unusual garden (devoid of palaces) and of the fountain was commissioned to the Florentine sculptor Francesco Camilliani, student of Baccio Bandinelli.

Giorgio Vasari called the fountain: «stupendissima (...) che non ha pari in Fiorenza nè forse in Italia» («most wonderful (...) unparalleled in Florence and maybe in Italy»).

In fact, the Senate of Palermo decided to buy the building in front of the square and relocated here the city hall, called Palazzo Pretorio.