Plant for cooling preforms, comprising a collection and translation element provided with a plurality of receptacles adapted to accommodate respective preforms that are usually knocked out of an injection mould, a revolving-turret element with two opposite surfaces provided with a plurality of cups adapted to accommodate a respective preform; said turret revolves in a controlled manner about a horizontal axis so as to successively orientate the two surfaces upwards and downwards, and the collection and translation element can be displaced with a translational motion from a preform loading position selectively to a plurality of distinct positions, which lie above the surfaces of the turret when rotated upwards, and can engage and release the preforms from the respective receptacles. The distribution pattern of the receptacles is similar to the distribution pattern of the cups so as to enable the preforms to fall exactly into respective cups.