Together with the Cassaro, it represents the main axis of the historic centre and provides access to a number of important sights, including Teatro Massimo and Fontana Pretoria.

The creation of the street addressed the need of a more sliding traffic and the requests of the nobility, eager to have new spaces for its buildings.

[1] The street is perfectly straight from Piazza Verdi, near Teatro Massimo, to Porta di Vicari, near the Palermo Centrale railway station.

With the Cassaro, Via Maqueda forms the famous Baroque intersection known as Quattro Canti (Piazza Villena).

During daylight hours, the street is pedestrian in the stretch from Piazza Verdi to Quattro Canti.