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    Agrigento

    Italy

    Agrigento

    CityCultureFor Families

    Agrigento lies on a hill on Sicily's south coast, about four kilometers from the sea. Beneath the city lies the Valley of the Temples, the ruins of the Greek city Akragas, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Italy
    7. Sicily
    9. Agrigento
    Agrigento lies on a hill on Sicily's south coast, about four kilometers from the sea. Beneath the city lies the Valley of the Temples, the ruins of the Greek city Akragas, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. The Doric temples from the 5th century BC, especially the Temple of Concordia, are among the best preserved in the Greek world. The Archaeological Museum and the Garden of Kolymbethra complement the visit. The Old Town up on the slope is medieval: its main street is Via Atenea; at the hill's highest point stands San Gerlando Cathedral; the Church of Santa Maria dei Greci is also in the Old Town. The Temple Valley has little shade; in summer, you should avoid the hottest hours.

    Sights in Agrigento

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    1Panchine di Agrigento

    The Panchine di Agrigento offer you a unique place of peace and contemplation above the city. From these strategically placed benches, you enjoy an expansive panoramic view that often connects the ancient ruins of the Valley of the Temples with the modern city and the azure Mediterranean Sea. Although the benches themselves hold no historical significance, their location is of great cultural relevance, as they offer a perspective on Agrigento's millennia-old history. Here you can absorb the impressive landscape and grasp the vastness of the surroundings. Our Tip: Visit the Panchine in the late afternoon to witness the golden hours before sunset, when the light bathes the temples and the coast in warm colors. This is also an excellent time for atmospheric photos. To fully savor the tranquility, avoid midday when the sun is at its highest.
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    Oratorio of Phalaris
    Historic Landmark

    2Oratorio of Phalaris

    Small temple from Roman times (1st century BC) next to the Archaeological Museum, built over the filled-in circular area of the Ekklesiasterion, the assembly place of the ancient city. In Norman times, it was converted into a chapel for a monastery.
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    Regional Archaeological Museum Pietro Griffo
    Museum

    3Regional Archaeological Museum Pietro Griffo

    Archaeological Museum located between the city and the Valley of Temples, featuring finds from Akragas and its surrounding region. Its most famous exhibit is an original Telamon, one of the approximately 7.5-meter-high supporting figures from the Temple of Zeus.
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    Santa Maria dei Greci
    Church

    4Santa Maria dei Greci

    Small church in the Old Town, built around 1200 over the remains of a Doric temple, with a 13th-century Gothic portal. Foundations of the ancient temple are visible through a glass floor.
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    Garden of the Kolymbethra
    Garden

    5Garden of the Kolymbethra

    A six-hectare garden in the Valley of the Temples, occupying the site of a 5th-century BC ancient water basin. Paths weave among citrus, olive, and almond trees; the site has been managed by the FAI Foundation since 1999. Admission separate from the Valley of the Temples; combined ticket available.
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    Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi)
    Attraction

    6Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi)

    Archaeological Park of the Greek city of Akragas, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. On a ridge south of the modern city stand 5th-century BC Doric temples, including the very well-preserved Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Juno, and the remains of the never-completed Temple of Zeus. The park offers little shade.
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    Food & Drink

    1

    Sal8

    Restaurant on Via Cesare Battisti on the eastern edge of the Old Town, a few minutes' walk from Via Atenea.
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    2

    Aguglia Persa

    Italian restaurant on Via Francesco Crispi, the street from the Old Town down to the Valley of the Temples. Self-described as serving Sicilian grilled cuisine.
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    3

    Ristorante Akropolis

    Italian restaurant with fish and seafood, on the slope between the Old Town and the Valley of the Temples. The terrace overlooks the Valley of the Temples.
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    4

    Kalos

    Italian restaurant with fish and seafood on Salita Filino on the eastern edge of the Old Town.
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    5

    Unbekannter Ort

    Gastropub on Via Atenea, the main street of the old town. Restaurant and bar in one.
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    Food and Drink

    The cuisine in Agrigento combines fish from the south coast with products from the hinterland: almonds, pistachios, olives, and durum wheat. You'll find restaurants in the old town around Via Atenea and by the sea in San Leone.

    Almond bake

    Almonds are the basis of many confections, from soft almond cookies to marzipan fruits.

    Sweet Couscous

    Sweet couscous with pistachios and almonds, a specialty of the nuns of the Santo Spirito Convent in the Old Town.

    Fish and Other Seafood

    Swordfish, sardines, and squid are on most menus, grilled or as a pasta sauce.

    Pasta with sardines

    Sicilian classic with sardines, wild fennel, raisins and pine nuts.

    Granita and Cannoli

    Almond or lemon semifreddo for breakfast with brioche, and ricotta-filled pastry rolls are also daily staples here.

    History and Culture

    AkragasThe city of Akragas was founded around 580 BC by settlers from Gela and Rhodes, rapidly becoming one of Sicily's richest Greek cities. Its golden age was the 5th century BC; under tyrant Theron, construction began on grand temples like the Temple of Zeus. Philosopher Empedocles was from Akragas. In 406 BC, Carthaginians conquered and plundered the city, which never regained its former might. The Romans named it Agrigentum.From Girgenti to AgrigentoDuring the Middle Ages, the settlement retreated to the hill where the old town stands today. The cathedral's construction began in the second half of the 11th century, and it was consecrated in 1099 by Bishop Gerlando. The city was known as Girgenti until 1927, when it received the ancient-inspired name Agrigento.Pirandello & FestivalsThe writer Luigi Pirandello, Nobel Literature laureate of 1934, was born in 1867 at the Caos estate near Agrigento; his birthplace is a museum. Agrigento's Mandorlo in Fiore festival marks the February almond blossom. The Festival of Saint Calogero, with processions, is held on July's first two Sundays. Agrigento was Italian Capital of Culture in 2025.

    Exploring Locally

    Old TownExplore the Old Town on foot. Its main thoroughfare is Via Atenea, from which steep alleys lead uphill. Regional trains to Palermo depart from Agrigento Centrale station.Valley of the TemplesCity buses on lines 1 and 2 run from the city to the Valley of the Temples. The main entrance is Porta V with parking; use the parking at the ticket offices. There is little shade in the park, so bring water and a hat.Coast and SurroundingsFor Scala dei Turchi, the Pirandello House, and other nearby destinations, a car is more convenient.

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    Campgrounds in Agrigento

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    Nearby

    Sicily

    Sicily

    Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and separated from the Italian mainland by the Strait of Messina. Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Spaniards have left behind temples, mosaics, cathedrals, and Baroque cities here. In the east rises Mount Etna, the highest mountain on a Mediterranean island and one of the world's most active volcanoes.
    Cefalù

    Cefalù

    Cefalù is located on Sicily's north coast, about 70 kilometers east of Palermo, nestled between a sandy beach and the steep Rocca cliff. The small old town is dominated by the Norman Cathedral, commissioned by King Roger II in 1131 and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2015. Its narrow streets house the medieval washhouse and the Mandralisca Museum, featuring a portrait by Antonello da Messina. The climb up the Rocca leads to the remains of a castle and offers sweeping views over the town and coast. In summer, Cefalù is crowded and parking is scarce; it's quieter in spring and autumn.
    Palermo

    Palermo

    Palermo, the capital of Sicily, is located on the north coast in the plain of the Conca d'Oro beneath Monte Pellegrino. Phoenicians, Arabs, Normans, Hohenstaufen, and Spaniards have shaped the city, a legacy still visible in its urban landscape today: churches with red domes, Byzantine gold mosaics, Baroque churches, and fountains. Since 2015, nine sites in Palermo, Cefalù, and Monreale have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Arab-Norman Palermo", seven of which are in Palermo itself. Equally renowned are its markets and street food. With the Cathedral, Norman Palace, and Quattro Canti, most sights are within walking distance.
    Ragusa Ibla

    Ragusa Ibla

    Ragusa Ibla is one of the two parts of Ragusa's old town in southeastern Sicily. It lies on a hill east of the city and was rebuilt on its ancient site after the 1693 earthquake, while a new upper town arose on the higher ground above. Narrow streets, staircases, and alleys still follow its medieval layout. Together with the upper town, Ibla is one of the late Baroque towns of the Val di Noto, which have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2002.
    Trapani

    Trapani

    Trapani is located in the far west of Sicily on a narrow, sickle-shaped peninsula that juts out into the sea. Its old town, with its churches and palaces, stretches to the Torre di Ligny at its very tip. To the south of the city lie the salt pans with their windmills; above the city, on a mountain, is medieval Erice, which you reach by cable car. From the port, hydrofoils and ferries depart for the Egadi Islands. Trapani is also known for its Good Friday procession of the Misteri and for couscous with fish.

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