Agrigento is not only "The Valley of the Temples".
What to see in Agrigento
Agrigento is located on the south-west side of Sicily, is well know as the Temples City, the most well preserve ancient greek city in Italy.
2025 is going to be a BIG year for the city since is the "Italian Capital of culture": events are going to take place all year round, so it's a good opportunity to visit the city!
The historical center is a nice place to have a walk, around narrow streets, "salite" and stairs..get ready for a lot of steps uphill!
The trail starts in via Atenea, the main road in the center. Along it, you will find sign boards, with info about monuments, churches, and sightseeing for enjoying your stroll. Follow them, but sometimes "get lost" in the maze of streets, you will find amazing glimpses, buildings, and artistic "cortili".
Keep in mind that like many Sicilian cities, shops and monuments have a lunch break from 12 till 4 pm.
The churches are free of charge, only for St. Maria dei Greci and the Cathedral there is a combo ticket (in 2023, 6€) to visit them.
Valley of the Temples
The Valley of the Temples is the main attraction in Agrigento and is one of the most famous historical sites in Sicily.
From 1997 is UNESCO World Heritage, the park included 8 temples all built between 510 and 430 a.C.
The two more famous are Concordia temple and Hera (known as Juno)temple. They are the best maintained in the whole valley, and you can admire them from far away.
You can explore the site on foot (normally need 2.5 hrs), but for those who have mobility issues or are too tired to walk, there is a shuttle service between the Temple of Juno and Hercules that costs only €3 per person one-way.
Tickets (13€) for the Valley of the Temples can be purchased at the ticket office situated near the Temple of Juno, or at Porta Quinta.
You can reach the site by car, by bus or on foot. It's actually not far from the city center (3km), but if you go on foot consider the heat, especially at summer time.
By car, there are parking lots available on site for €5, while by bus take route 1, 2 or 2/ (1,20€ one way), check the time schedule at the website below.
From mid-July to mid-September the opening time is extended till 11 pm.
My personal recommendation is to visit the site at late afternoon, you will enjoy the sunset in the Valley and then the beautifully illuminated temples: it is absolutely magical!
What to eat typical
Mignolata or Miscata
The Mignolata is a rustic product widespread in "Tavola calda", it is a small round-shaped pastry filled with different ingredients like olive, cheese, jam and other. Due to its shape, twisted on itself, it resembles a rose.
Cavatelli all’Agrigentina
Cavatelli all'Agrigentina are the most popular first course in the Agrigento area, based on simple ingredients. Recalling the Pasta alla Norma of Catania with tomato, aubergines, onion, basil and salted ricotta.
Maccu di Fave ad Agrigento
With Maccu di Fave we mean a cream that is made through long cooking of dried broad beans, to which some vegetables are added to flavor the dish. This dish is very nutritious and is consumed either as a main course or as side dish.
Minestra di San Giuseppe
The Minestra di San Giuseppe is a variant of the Maccu di Fave which uses more ingredients, once prepared on the occasion of March 19th, from which the name derives. This soup, in addition to broad beans, numerous other legumes and veggies are added.
Almond desserts and sweet couscous
Among the things to eat in Agrigento I need to mention the desserts. Most of the sweets are made with almonds.
The cciarduni , typical dessert from Agrigento stuffed with ricotta cream and covered with chopped almonds and rustic pie.
You have surely heard of the cous cous, typical dish especially of Trapani' area and brought by the Arabs. In Agrigento there is a sweet version, a recipe invented by the nuns Cistercians of the convent of Santo Spirito.
Although, I think that nun pastries are always the best, I would like to recommend two other shops.
How To Get To Agrigento
By air: You can fly into Palermo Falcone and Borsellino Airport or alternatively to Trapani Vincenzo Florio Airport. Catania Fontanarossa Airport is another access point for Agrigento.
After that you can chose to reach Agrigento by car, by bus or by train. If you choose to take public transportation check below description.
From Palermo
Train to Agrigento takes 2 hrs, check Trenitalia website.
Bus from Palermo city center, takes 2 hrs, by Cuffaro Autoservizi.
From the Airport you can catch a bus connecting the main towns and cities of Sicily, company is Autolinee Sal, running only on weekdays.
From Trapani
Bus operated by Salvatore Lumia autolinee, takes 3.5 hrs.
From Catania
Bus company SAIS trasporti, takes about 3 hrs. I won't recommend the train from Catania is a long journey with different changes of trains.
✨Bonus ✨
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