From Wikitravel

Agrigento is a medium-sized city on the south coast of Sicily, Italy, famous for its Greek Valley of Temples.

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 By Train 1.2 By Bus 1.3 By Boat 2 Get around 2.1 By bus 3 See 3.1 The Valley of Temples 4 Elsewhere 5 Do 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 8.1 Budget 8.2 Middle Range 8.3 Splurge 9 Get out

Get in

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 5km below the town). However, travelling to the east of Sicily by train is not easy, and takes a long time.

By Bus

Frequent buses run to Palermo, Caltanissetta, Catania, Sciacca and close(ish) to Eraclea Minoa. A few also run to Gela and Trapani via Mazara del Vallo, Marsala and Castelvetrano (for Selinunte).

By Boat

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

Get around

By bus

Frequent buses run from outside the train station to the Archeological Museum and the main entrance of the Valle dei Templi. You could also walk, but it can get very hot in summer.

See

The Valley of Temples

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 very hot in summer and there is little shade.

• The first temple east of the entrance is the Tempio di Ercole - long, thin and about 1/3 standing. Next to it are some interesting deep ruts formed by ancient carriages.

• Next comes the large Tempio della Concordia - a very impressive almost complete structure.

• The track the continues above small cliffs at the edge of the ridge to the Tempio di Giove. Partially ruined, it offers a great spot to look back down the ridge to the other temples.

• To the west of the main entrance is the massive ruined Tempio di Giove, most notable for a former column carved as a man now lying on the ground.

• Behind this is the small ruined Tempio di Dioscure.

• Beyond the main temple site is the small, but interesting Tomba di Terone.

To put all these sight 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).

Elsewhere

The old centre of Agrigento is also worth a visit.

• Via Atena has a range of small shops and throngs with locals during the evening passeggiata.
• The large Duomo, with good views.

Do

Visit the Valle dei Templi (The Valley of temples). The temples were built by the Greeks and they are one of the best examples og Greek architecture outside Greece.

Eat

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

Drink

Sleep

Budget

• Belvedere Via San Vito 20 (+39) 0922 20051. Up some steps around the corner from the station. Large & plain, but cheap.

Middle Range

• Hotel Baglio della Luna, C.da Maddalusa S.S. 640, Km 4, 150, ph. +39 0922.511061 fax. +39 0922.598802 , [1]. The natural elegance of Sicily lives in the fascinating rural setting of Hotel Baglio della Luna, at the doors of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento.

Splurge

Get out

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