Agrigento, Sicily

Agrigento is a densely populated town on the southern coast of Sicily, Italy, and capital of the province of Agrigento. The little city is renowned for its Valley of the Temples; the site of the ancient Greek city of Akragras. In the Valley of the Temples are the ruins of numerous temples but also necropoli, houses, streets and a small amphitheatre, as well as several auditoria, and a fine archeological museum.

Agrigento's old town also has a certain charm. Here you will find a number of historical churches and monuments. Via Atena has a range of small shops and throngs with locals during the evening passeggiata.

Things to see and do

* Valley of the Temples
* Archeological Museum
* Old Agrigento
* Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Greci - an interesting Norman church
* Shopping in Via Atena - old town area

General information

Cruise Season - Feb to Dec
Currency - Euro (€)
Language - Italian
Land Area - 244 km²
Population - 60,000 approx
Electricity - 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT/UTC + one hour
International Country Telephone Code - 39

Port Location -The port of Agrigento is located approximately 3km's from the town centre.

Travel Links - Frequent trains run from the station near the centre of town to Palermo and Caltanissetta, less frequently to Enna.The journey to/from Palermo takes 2 hours.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.

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

There are daily boats and hydrofoils in summer (fewer boats and 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.