Agrigento

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.

Tourist information

• Ufficio Informazioni

  phone: +39 0922 20454
  address: Via Cesare Battisti, 15

By train

Frequent trains run from the station near the centre of town to Palermo and Caltanissetta, less frequently to Enna (but not that useful - the station in Enna is about 5 km below the town). The journey to/from Palermo takes 2 hours and costs . Connecting with the east of Sicily by train is not easy, and takes a long time.
The train station is at Piazza Marconi, on the southeast corner of the old town.

• Stazione di Agrigento Centrale

By bus

Frequent buses run to Palermo (Down the street from Stazione Centrale), Caltanissetta, Catania, Sciacca and close(ish) to Eraclea Minoa. A few also run to Gela and Trapani via Mazara del Vallo, Marsala in 2 hr 20 min (Salvatore Lumia Bus) and Castelvetrano (for Selinunte).

• Stazione bus

  address: Piazzale Fratelli Rosselli

By boat

There are daily boats and hydrofoils in summer (fewer boats and no hydrofoils in winter) from Agrigento's port 3 km away - Porto Empedocle to the islands of Lampedusa and Linosa. See SIREMAR and Ustica Lines. There are frequent local buses from Porto Empedocle into Agrigento.

On foot

The town centre and its medieval streets can easily be reached on foot from the train station.

By bus

Frequent city buses run from outside the train station, stopping at the Archeological Museum and slightly further downhill, the main entrance of the Valle dei Templi. Take buses 1, 2 or 3 for the Archeological Museum and slightly further downhill, the main entrance of the Valle dei Templi.

• TUATickets should be bought before boarding from a bar or tabacchi and validated on board the bus.

Valle dei Templi

• Valle dei Templi

  phone: +39 0922 621657
  address: Via Panoramica dei Templi, snc (Casa Sanfilippo)

The Valley of Temples is a string of five Greek temples stretching along a ridge to the south of the city. It is a sight worthy of comparison to the Acropolis 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 punishingly hot in summer and there is little shade other than some olive trees along the ridge. There is a shuttle bus that runs through the site (€3 for one stop, Nov 2019). Parking costs €1 for 30 min to a maximum of €5 (Nov 2019).

• Tempio di ErcoleThe 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 TeroneJust behind the main temple.

• Tempio della ConcordiaFurther east is quite impressive large and relatively well preserved structure built around 440-450 BC.

• Tempio di GiunoneThe 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 GioveTo 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 DioscureA 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"

  phone: +39 0922401565
  address: Contrada San Nicola 12
  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 - RomanoThe remains of the ancient city of "Akragas".

Historical centre

The old centre of Agrigento is also worth a visit.

• Cattedrale di San GerlandoThe 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

  address: Salita Santa Maria dei Greci
  An interesting Norman church built some 1000 years ago on the site of an ancient Greek temple.

• Via AteneaStroll along small shops and throngs with locals during the evening passeggiata.

Events

• Festa del Mandorlo in Fiore (almond Blossom Festival) towards the end of February is to be commended.

Sample the Greek-influenced cuisine, especially eggplant (aubergine) and olive oil-based dishes.

• Passo dei Briganti

  phone: +39 393 12 41 080, +39 328 62 57 587
  address: Highway N° 1 Villaseta-Agrigento

• La Terrazza degli Dei

  phone: +39 0922 596288
  address: Via Passeggiata Archeologica, 33
  Gourmet cuisine with local products and fresh fish.

Budget

• B&B Le Cinque Novelle

  phone: +39 0922 20232, +39 320 3146111
  address: Via Amendola 24
  Free parking, 2 km from the Valley of the Temples

• Villa Nicoletta

  address: Via Rosmunda 16

• B&B Night and Day

  address: Via Romano 9
  Quiet and good value accommodation with clean rooms, central located and priced reasonably. Impressive view from the common terrace.

• Belvedere

  phone: +39 0922 20051
  Up some steps around the corner from the station. Large & plain, but cheap and friendly.

• Oceano&Mare

  phone: +39 0922 413041
  address: Via Caterina D'Altavilla 35

Mid-range

• Agrigento Hotel Villa Holiday

  phone: +39 0922 606332
  address: Via Ettore Gabrici N.9, 92100 Agrigento
  Small hotel with private car park 2 km from the beach, 4 km from the Valley of the Temples

• Hotel Baglio della Luna

  phone: +39 0922 511061
  address: C.da Maddalusa S.S. 640, Km 4, 150, ph
  Rural hotel.

• Camere a Sudin the old town centre off Via Athena. Very small, tidy, stylish and modern B&B with nice breakfast served on the roof terrace.

Splurge

• Hotel Costa Azzurra

• Hotel Dioscuri bay Palace, Set in a very nice bay, on the promenade of San Leone. The hotel has 102 rooms, all with balcony over the sea or the hinterland. Bedrooms are decorated uniformly in soft colors. All rooms offer modern amenities such as hairdryer, frigo-bar, telephone, TV color and balcony. Bathrooms are provided either with bathtub or shower.

• Hotel Villa Athena

  phone: +39 0922596288
  address: Via Passeggiata Archeologica 33
  Beautiful rooms and suites overlooking the Concordia Temple, a brand new spa, a garden with private pool and the restaurant La Terrazza degli Dei, in a panoramic terrace in front of the Valley.

• 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