Discover Province of Agrigento - Travel to Province of Agrigento

On the second day of your trip, you will want to start your intensive tour of the city. You will wake up to the beautiful vegetation and flora of the Valley of the Temples, consisting of pistachio trees, olive trees, almond trees and wild flowers.

The Valle dei Templi (Valley of the Temple) is the most famous archaeological site in Agrigento housing part of the best preserved Ancient Greek ruins in the globe, more so outside Greece. This may be attributed to the fact that Agrigento had been colonised by Greek since 6th century BC. It is among the most exceptional examples of Greater Greece architecture and art, and is also among the main attractions of Agrigento. By visiting Agrigento, your trip will be incomplete if you do not get to this amazing historical site, which also happens to be a national monument of Italy. The entrance fee is about 8 Euros.

The Valley of the Temples (which is more of a ridge than a valley) is majorly comprised of the beautiful relics of nine sacred temples out of the original ten. The best preserved of the relics was built in the 5th century BC, the Temple of Concorde, which was incorporated into a church. The other temples that you will need to have a glimpse at are the Temple of Juno, Temple of Hercules, Temple of Zeus Olympic, Temple of Vulcan, Temple of Asclepius, Temple of Castor and Polllux.

To the east of the entrance, the first temple is the Tempio di Ercole (Temple of Hercules). It is thin, long and around a third standing. This is the oldest of the temples, built at the end of the 6th century BC. Close to it are some fascinating deep ruts made by ancient carriages.

Next to it, heading east is the large Tempio della Concorda, the most impressive almost whole structure that was built around 440-450 BC. The narrow track continues up the small cliffs on the ridge towards the Temple of Juno. It is partially ruined but offers a perfect spot to look down the ridge at the other temples.

The Temple of Zeus Olympic in the museum together with Gigante recreations show the form and size of the temple. At one time, this temple was supported by 38 gigante. Even though it has been reduced to a mere jumble of large stones, this temple was at one time the biggest known Greek temple in the globe.

Besides the temples, the valley of the Temples holds numerous other archaeological sites that include the 1st century AD Temple of Theron as well as several sanctuaries which were built in as early as the sixth century. At the western area of the valley where the Temple of Concorde lies, are sections of early-medieval necropolis that were constructed on existing cisterns. You will have the chance to see some of the tombs and catacombs in the Grotte Fragapane that date back to the 4th century AD. Guided tours of the Valley of the Temples may be hired and audio tours are available at the entrance.

To complement your trip to the Valley of the Temples you will need to visit the archaeological Museum situated at the city centre as well as the adjacent Roman Quarter. The Museum is approximately half way from the Valley of the Temples to the station and houses various artifacts taken from the site. Interesting exhibits in the archaeological Museum include a large collection of vases, Roman mosaics and lion-head water spouts. When it was built, it was intended to accommodate a large telamon to be constructed from pieces.

The ancient centre of Agrigento is worth a visit as well. The magnificent cathedral is uphill to northwestern corner of the city centre on Via Duomo. It was built around 1000AD and has since been renovated several times. Today, the cathedral offers amazing views across the valley. It is advisable to visit this place earlier in the day because it closes from 12-4 pm.

From the cathedral you may head yet to another church, the Salita Santa Maria dei Greci. It is an interesting Norman church, built about 1000 years ago at the site where an ancient Greek temple had been built. You will not have to worry about entrance cost since it is free.

The historic centre of Agrigento (Girgenti) in itself deserves a tour. It is perched on the Girgenti Hills, a spot chosen for defensive and its proximity to the new port, making it quite favourable to trade. Walking in this ancient centre allows you t explore the piazzas, maze of tiny alleys and side-streets of the old town. The tour begins at the Church of San Calogero, which is located at the corner of Viale della Vittoria, a magnificent vista. You will then proceed to the Via Antenea, the main street and the Porta di Ponte. In case you wish to shop some souvenirs to remind you of your memorable trip to Agrigento, Via Antenea is the place to do so. The street is lined with old palaces, shops and shopping halls on either side.

Right ahead, the Monastero di Santo Spirito and the abbey Church beckon you to have a peep in their art. They are a splendid example of prototype Chiaramonte and medieval art in Sicily. They form the most intriguing monument of the historical centre of Agrigento. The generous nuns at this place offer couscous and sugary sweets as well as almond macaroon, which they prepare according to the ancient recipes. Do not miss to taste them because you will never find them anywhere else in the world; the ancient recipes used to make them are kept a secret and jealously preserved.

Then next exciting place to go is the Pirandello’s house museum. A visit to Luigi Pirandello’s birthplace starts at his House. It was greatly restored after the war and has been converted into a museum, displaying relics, paintings, family photos, manuscripts, theatrical images and editions of theatrical novels and works. From the house you will take a short path leading to the ‘rough stone’ that contains his ashes, as you admire the unique view on the ‘’African Sea’’.

A visit to Agrigento will most definitely expose you to ancient history. By visiting all the exciting places in this amazing city, you will have a life time experience, and you will notice that it is worth the effort.

Planning the trip

Lying in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily, Lampedusa is the largest of the Italian Pelagie Islands.

The island is noted for its beauty.

Deep gorges cut through the northwestern side while the southeastern side has many magnificent beaches and numerous coves, perfect for scuba diving and snorkelling.

Underwater sites to explore include the underwater statue Madonna del Mare.

Walkers can trek up to the island’s three main peaks, Monte Rosso, which has a cultivated crater, Monte Nero and Monte Vulcano.

The Isola dei Conigli (Rabbit Island) near to the south coast of Lampedusa, is one few egg-laying sites in Italy for the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, which is endangered throughout the Mediterranean. The beach itself is part of a nature reserve. Lampedusa's climate and landscape are very similar to North Africa with mild winters with moderate rainfall and hot, dry summers.

Agrigento is a city on the coast of Sicily, Italy. The city is popular as an attraction site of the ancient Greek town of Akragas, one of the leading cities during the golden era of ancient Greece. It is founded on a plateau adjacent to the sea with Rivers Akragas and Hypsas nearby. On its north is a ridge which offers a degree of natural fortification. Agrigento is a main tourist centre thanks to its exceptionally rich archaeological legacy.

When you are on a two-day visit to this wonderful city, you will definitely not lack something to do or see. You need to generate a precise plan to follow for you to pay a trip to the multiple fascinating sites in the city, or else you will surely be beaten by time.

The First day

On the first day, you will be quite unfamiliar with the city. You will therefore need to know each corner of the town, places to visit, how to get there and any other relevant information that will be useful in your adventure. Helpful information can be obtained from the tourist information offices on Piazza Marconi close to the railway station or in the city centre on Piazzale Aldo Moro. There also exists general tourist information at the parking lot found at the Valley of the Temples archaeological site.

How to arrive

Travelling to Agrigento is quite easy for the locals but foreigners need to extensively plan for this trip. In case you are a visitor to Italy and you wish to pay a visit to this great place, you will need to select most suitable of the various airports that are connected to Agrigento. The town does not have its own airport but the nearest include International Airport Palermo, Pantelleria Airport, international Airport Cantania-Fontanarossa and International Airport Trapani-Birgi. Once you are at the airport the preferable solution is to hire a taxi or a car to get to Agrigento.

Trains are the most common transport modes to and from Agrigento. The place is quite a distance from other towns which calls for the use of efficient trains from Palermo and Caltanissetta. The journey by train will take about 3 hours and you will have the opportunity to see the countryside as you maneuver through the hills. 

The coach is the perfect substitute to the trains, where you travel faster and more comfortable. Sitting on the top of the speeding double-decker coach is an experience you will not easily forget. Using a bus makes your journey easier. Agrigento has a superb bus network to Catania, Palermo, Sciacca, Caltanissetta and Gela. Regular city buses run from the train station, stop at the Archaeological Museum then slightly further downhill to the major entrance of the Valley of Temples.

If you want to enjoy the sea then you will need to travel by boat. There is daily transport by boats in the summer but limited boat activity during the winter. Porto Empedocle, Agrigento’s port is situated 3 km away from the town. The boats and hydrofoils at this port lead to Pelagie, Lampedusa and Linosa islands. Getting around Agrigento will require you to hire a car or a scooter. They are the mostly used local transportation modes. Most streets in the town are quite wide and vey high while others are more narrow and curved. These scooters find their way around quite easily. The landscape is not flat thus the use of bicycles is extremely limited. The medieval streets and the town centre can be reached from the train station by foot, though it could get quite hot during the summer season.

There are a variety of restaurants close to the historic center. Preferably, you may visit the Concordia, off Atenea for good fish dishes and pastas. In case you want to taste a splurge, you may get it at the Villa Athena whenever they are serving on the terrace. Along with the excellent foods, you will have a spectacular view of the temples. Since you are staying in Agrigento for two days, you will probably need to spend the night. There are various inexpensive bases suitable for exploring the area. 

Places to visit