Agrigento (Sicilian: Girgenti or Giurgenti) is the capital of the eponymous province on the Italian island of Sicily.
Agrigento is primarily famous for the Valley of Temples, impressive remains of Greek Doric temples. Since 1997 the Valley of Temples and the other ancient sites in the area have been included in the UNESCO's World Heritage List.
During the golden age of Ancient Greece, it was known as Akragas (Ἀκράγας). One of the leading cities of Magna Graecia, it was the hometown of philosopher Empedocles. Later on, it became Agrigentum in Latin, and Kirkent or Jirjent in Arabic.
Agrigento is the birthplace of the novelist, poet and playwright Luigi Pirandello who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1934.
- Ufficio Informazioni, Via Cesare Battisti, 15, +39 0922 20454.
Ufficio Informazioni, Via Cesare Battisti, 15, +39 0922 20454.
- Valle dei Templi, Via Panoramica dei Templi, snc (Casa Sanfilippo) (take bus 1 from Piazzale Rosselli; get off at Clinica S.Anna / Parcheggio Porta V.; alternatively take buses 2,3 get off at Posto di ristoro / Templi., there is no entrance here anymore, so walk down road approx. 600 m following road signs towards "Porta V" entrance; also bus "2/" (confirm with the driver) should stop at the Tempio di Giunone. entrance which is at the opposite end of the park, +39 0922 621657. Via Sacra and Temple of Jupiter: 08:30-19:00; Hellenistic Roman Quarter, the Temple of Demeter and other remote areas: 08:30-17:00., combined Park-Museum.
The Valley of Temples is stretching along a ridge to the south of the city are a string of five Greek temples, a sight worthy of comparison to the Acropolis itself in Athens. The temples are usually divided into two zones: the Eastern Zone and Western Zone each side of the main entrance and the road from the city centre. It can get punishing hot in summer and there is little shade other than some olive trees along the ridge itself.
- Tempio di Ercole. The first temple east of the entrance is long, thin and about 1/3 standing. It is the oldest of the temples, built towards the end of the 6th century BC. Next to it are some interesting deep ruts formed by ancient carriages.
- Tomba di Terone. Just behind the main temple.
- Tempio della Concordia. Further east is quite impressive large and relatively well preserved structure built around 440-450 BC.
- Tempio di Giunone. The path continues above small cliffs at the edge of the ridge to the partially ruined temple. The location offers a great spot to look back down the ridge to the other temples.
- Tempio di Giove. To the west of the main entrance is the massive temple which was never completed and is now in ruins with little structure visible. Most notable is one of the huge stone statues now lying on the ground.
- Tempio di Dioscure. A smaller temple just behind the Tempio di Giove.
An audio tour is available at the entrance to the temples. (Some ID is required as security for these, which means walking back the entire length of the site just to give the guide back).
To put all these sights in context, it is well worth visiting the Archeological Museum (half way back into the city centre) and the adjacent Roman Quarter (with a few nice mosaics).
- Museo Archeologico Regionale "Pietro Griffo", Contrada San Nicola 12 (Buses 1, 2, 2/, 3 from Piazzale Rosselli., +39 0922401565. Tu-Sa 09:00-19:00, Su-M 09:00-13:00. The museum is about half way from the station to the Valley of the Temples and contains artifacts taken from the site. It was built to accommodate a huge telamon, reconstructed from pieces. .
- Quartiere Ellenistico - Romano. The remains of the ancient city of "Akragas".
Valle dei Templi, Via Panoramica dei Templi, snc (Casa Sanfilippo) (take bus 1 from Piazzale Rosselli; get off at Clinica S.Anna / Parcheggio Porta V.; alternatively take buses 2,3 get off at Posto di ristoro / Templi., there is no entrance here anymore, so walk down road approx. 600 m following road signs towards "Porta V" entrance; also bus "2/" (confirm with the driver) should stop at the Tempio di Giunone. entrance which is at the opposite end of the park, +39 0922 621657. Via Sacra and Temple of Jupiter: 08:30-19:00; Hellenistic Roman Quarter, the Temple of Demeter and other remote areas: 08:30-17:00., combined Park-Museum.
Tempio di Ercole. The first temple east of the entrance is long, thin and about 1/3 standing. It is the oldest of the temples, built towards the end of the 6th century BC. Next to it are some interesting deep ruts formed by ancient carriages.
Tomba di Terone. Just behind the main temple.
Tempio della Concordia. Further east is quite impressive large and relatively well preserved structure built around 440-450 BC.
Tempio di Giunone. The path continues above small cliffs at the edge of the ridge to the partially ruined temple. The location offers a great spot to look back down the ridge to the other temples.
Tempio di Giove. To the west of the main entrance is the massive temple which was never completed and is now in ruins with little structure visible. Most notable is one of the huge stone statues now lying on the ground.
Tempio di Dioscure. A smaller temple just behind the Tempio di Giove.
Museo Archeologico Regionale "Pietro Griffo", Contrada San Nicola 12 (Buses 1, 2, 2/, 3 from Piazzale Rosselli., +39 0922401565. Tu-Sa 09:00-19:00, Su-M 09:00-13:00. The museum is about half way from the station to the Valley of the Temples and contains artifacts taken from the site. It was built to accommodate a huge telamon, reconstructed from pieces. .
Quartiere Ellenistico - Romano. The remains of the ancient city of "Akragas".
The old centre of Agrigento is also worth a visit.
- Cattedrale di San Gerlando. Nov-Mar: Tu-Su 10:00-13:00; Apr-Oct: Tu-Su 10:00-13:30, 15:30-19:00. The large cathedral is uphill in the northwestern corner of the town center on Via Duomo. Built around 1000 AD it has since been altered several times but today offers grand views across the valley.
- Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Greci, Salita Santa Maria dei Greci. Nov-Mar: Tu-Su 10:00-13:00; Apr-Oct: Tu-Su 10:00-13:30, 15:30-19:00. An interesting Norman church built some 1000 years ago on the site of an ancient Greek temple. Free admittance.
Cattedrale di San Gerlando. Nov-Mar: Tu-Su 10:00-13:00; Apr-Oct: Tu-Su 10:00-13:30, 15:30-19:00. The large cathedral is uphill in the northwestern corner of the town center on Via Duomo. Built around 1000 AD it has since been altered several times but today offers grand views across the valley.
Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Greci, Salita Santa Maria dei Greci. Nov-Mar: Tu-Su 10:00-13:00; Apr-Oct: Tu-Su 10:00-13:30, 15:30-19:00. An interesting Norman church built some 1000 years ago on the site of an ancient Greek temple. Free admittance.
- Via Atenea. Stroll along small shops and throngs with locals during the evening passeggiata.
- Festa del Mandorlo in Fiore (almond Blossom Festival) towards the end of February is to be commended.
Festa del Mandorlo in Fiore (almond Blossom Festival) towards the end of February is to be commended.
Via Atenea. Stroll along small shops and throngs with locals during the evening passeggiata.
Sample the Greek-influenced cuisine, especially eggplant (aubergine) and olive oil-based dishes.
- Passo dei Briganti, Highway N° 1 Villaseta-Agrigento, +39 393 12 41 080, +39 328 62 57 587.
- La Terrazza degli Dei, Via Passeggiata Archeologica, 33 (inside the 5-star Hotel Villa Athena, +39 0922 596288. Open every day for lunch and dinner 12:30-18:30, 20:00-22:30. Gourmet cuisine with local products and fresh fish.
Passo dei Briganti, Highway N° 1 Villaseta-Agrigento, +39 393 12 41 080, +39 328 62 57 587.
La Terrazza degli Dei, Via Passeggiata Archeologica, 33 (inside the 5-star Hotel Villa Athena, +39 0922 596288. Open every day for lunch and dinner 12:30-18:30, 20:00-22:30. Gourmet cuisine with local products and fresh fish.
- Porto Empedocle – a port town very close by which forms a conurbation with Agrigento; also famous rocks of Scala dei Turchi and Villa Romana next to it
- Heraclea Minoa – on the coast 25 km to the north-west
- Caltanissetta – inland to the north-east
- Gela – on the coast 64 km to the south-east
[[Porto Empedocle]] – a port town very close by which forms a conurbation with Agrigento; also famous rocks of Scala dei Turchi and Villa Romana next to it