Agrigento

Visit of the temples

Geography: m altitude. 230 s.l.m. Municipal sq km area. 244.6. Agrigento is situated on a hill at the coast of the Sea of ​​Sicily. It ´a great archaeological and tourist center, as well as agricultural and industrial center. The best times to visit the province are the late spring and late summer when the weather is mild and allows for a relaxing stay.
History: Agrigento was founded in the sixth century BC by Rhodians colonists. It became one of the most flourishing cities of Magna Grecia. He fought hard against the hegemony of Carthage, allied to Syracuse during the Punic Wars, but the Romans were reduced to slavery all the inhabitants. With the invasion of the Vandals, Goths and Byzantines, the city declined. It was conquered by the Arabs, under whom regained economic vigor. Then occupied by the Normans, it became a bishopric. It was later ruled by the Aragonese and then by the Spanish. In 1860 he voted with enthusiasm for the reunification of the Kingdom of Italy.
Monuments: Temple of Concord in the fifth century BC Temple of Juno Lacinia in the fifth century BC with altar of sacrifice. Temple of Hercules in the sixth century BC of Olympian Zeus temple built by the Carthaginians prisoners in the fifth century BC unfinished. Hellenistic Roman Quarter: living complex with mosaic floors.
Museums: Regional Archaeological Museum (ctr. S. Nicola): collection of prehistoric material and greek-Archaic period. Museo Civico (p. Town Hall) containing paintings from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century, medieval and Renaissance sculptures and modern painting.
Fairs: Festival of Almond and International Folklore Festival (February). Persephone festival (July-August). car race (September). Six Day Sailing to St. Leo (August). Feast of St. Gerlando and Regional Fair of the Garden (February). Feast of St. Calogero (July).
Tourist information: Castle of the Leopard (Palma de Montechiaro). In Palma de Lichtenberg, south of Agrigento, there is a corner was still in nineteenth-century style: the Gattopardo castle of the princes of Lampedusa, was still well preserved with its tower on the sea.
Gastronomy: Pasta with broccoli, fennel sausage, fried artichokes, ravioli with ricotta, roast kid, sweet and sour rabbit.
Wines: Cerasuolo, Marsala, Cannatelo, Meligauro, Zibibbo, Verdelho, Nerello, Porto Palo, Torre Salsa and local wines.
Crafts: pottery, mafaradde, wooden barrels, cork goods, carpets, wrought iron, wicker, carved wood.

Taken from the egm website

« See all the excursions