Agrigento: what to see, where to stay and how to get around
Akragas was founded around 580 BC by Greeks from Gela, and its temples were lined up along a ridge facing the sea, inside the city walls. The walk follows the ancient road from the east end to the west, past the best-preserved temple and the ruins of the largest. There is almost no shade, so start at opening time or come in the last hours of light. About three hours, plus the garden.
A short history of Agrigento
Greek settlers from Gela founded Akragas here around 580 BC, and within a century it was one of the richest cities in the Greek world; the philosopher Empedocles was born here. In 406 BC the Carthaginians destroyed it, and in 210 BC it passed to Rome under the name Agrigentum. The Arabs who conquered Sicily in the 9th century called it Girgenti, a name that lasted until 1927. In 1867 Luigi Pirandello, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, was born in the nearby village of Caos. The Valley of the Temples below the city, with the almost intact Temple of Concordia, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1997.
The ten best sights in Agrigento
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1Valley of the Temples
Greek temples on a ridge below the town; start at opening time in summer
2Temple of ConcordiaOne of the best-preserved Greek temples anywhere; best in late light
3Temple of JunoAt the east end of the ridge; look for the reddened stones
4Temple of HeraclesThe oldest temple in the valley; eight columns standing in a row
5Temple of Olympian ZeusA field of giant fallen blocks; find the stone giant lying on the ground
6Temple of the DioscuriFour columns and a corner of roof, the symbol of Agrigento
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7Tomb of Theron
A small tower tomb just outside the valley's walls
8Pietro Griffo Archaeological MuseumSee it before or after the temples; the giant from the Zeus temple stands inside
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9Pirandello's birthplace
The house where the playwright was born, between the city and the sea
10Cathedral of San GerlandoAt the top of the old town; the climb is steep, the view wide
Scan with your phone camera to open the map there
What is an audio walk?
Tours in Agrigento →A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Agrigento:
Free walking tours in Agrigento
Along the ridge of temples
Akragas was founded around 580 BC by Greeks from Gela, and its temples were lined up along a ridge facing the sea, inside the city walls. The walk follows the ancient road from the east end to the west, past the best-preserved temple and the ruins of the largest. There is almost no shade, so start at opening time or come in the last hours of light. About three hours, plus the garden.
- Temple of Juno · Built around 450 BC at the highest point of the ridge. When Carthage sacked Akragas in 406 BC the temple burned, and the reddened stone still shows where the fire was.
- Temple of Concordia · It survived almost whole because in the 6th century it was turned into a church, with arches cut into its inner walls. The name Concordia is modern, taken from a Latin inscription found nearby that has nothing to do with it.
- Temple of Heracles · The oldest temple of the valley, from the late 6th century BC. Its eight standing columns were put back up in the 1920s, paid for by Alexander Hardcastle, an English captain who spent his fortune on the excavations.
- Tomb of Theron · Tradition named this tower after Theron, the tyrant who ruled Akragas in its golden age. In fact it is a Roman tomb, built several centuries after him.
- Temple of Olympian Zeus · It would have been the largest Doric temple ever built, but it was never finished. Between its columns stood stone giants about eight metres tall; in the 18th century many of its blocks were carried off to build the harbour wall at Porto Empedocle.
- Kolymbethra Garden · The ancient historian Diodorus wrote that Akragas dug a great pool here using prisoners taken from Carthage after the battle of Himera in 480 BC. Today it is a valley of citrus and almond trees, cared for by the Italian heritage trust FAI.
The town on the acropolis
Modern Agrigento sits on the hill where the Greek acropolis was, and its churches stand on older temples. Start with the museum to understand the valley, then climb through the old town: a convent that sells sweets, the main street, a theatre and a church on a temple. The lanes are steep. About three hours.
- Pietro Griffo Archaeological Museum · The tall hall in the middle was built around one of the stone giants of the Zeus temple, put back together and standing upright. Pindar called Akragas the most beautiful city of mortals, and the finds here explain why.
- Monastery of Santo Spirito · A convent founded in the 13th century where the nuns still make sweets. Their speciality is a sweet couscous with pistachio, almonds and chocolate, sold through the door.
- Via Atenea · The street is named after Athena, the goddess whose temple stood at the top of the ancient city. In the evening the whole town walks along it from Piazza Aldo Moro.
- Teatro Pirandello · The theatre inside the town hall opened in the 1880s and was later renamed after Luigi Pirandello, the Agrigento writer who won the Nobel Prize in 1934. Peek in at the horseshoe of boxes.
- Santa Maria dei Greci · This small church stands on a Greek Doric temple of the 5th century BC, probably the temple of Athena. Its column stumps can be seen in a passage under the church and in the courtyard.
- Cathedral of San Gerlando · Founded by the Normans in the 11th century on the hill of the old acropolis. It is known for an acoustic effect: a whisper spoken at the entrance can be heard by someone standing far away in the apse.
Writers and white cliffs
The coast around Agrigento produced two of Italy's great writers, Pirandello and Camilleri, and both put it in their books. The drive goes from an art project in Favara to the playwright's house and the Montalbano town, then west along white cliffs and wild beaches. Bring swimsuits. A full day by car.
- Farm Cultural Park · In 2010 a couple from Favara, Andrea Bartoli and Florinda Saieva, bought houses around seven abandoned courtyards in their run-down town centre and filled them with contemporary art. It has become a model for reviving small Sicilian towns.
- Pirandello's birthplace · Luigi Pirandello was born here in 1867, in a country house in a district called Caos, and he liked to say he was a son of chaos. His ashes are buried under a pine tree near the house, looking out to sea.
- Porto Empedocle · Andrea Camilleri was born here in 1925, and the town is the model for Vigàta, the home of his Inspector Montalbano. A statue of Montalbano leans against a lamp post on the main street.
- Scala dei Turchi · The cliff is soft white marl, carved by wind and sea into giant steps. The name, the stair of the Turks, recalls pirates who are said to have landed here.
- Torre Salsa Reserve · A reserve run by WWF, with kilometres of empty beach under gypsum and clay cliffs. Loggerhead turtles nest on these beaches in summer.
- Eraclea Minoa · A Greek city on the white headland of Capo Bianco, with a small theatre of soft stone facing the sea. Below it is one of the finest beaches of this coast, backed by pines.
Getting to Agrigento and getting around
- Agrigento Centrale · Trains to Palermo, about two hours; the station is right below the old town
- Piazzale Rosselli bus station · Buses to Palermo, Catania and the coast; local buses down to the temples
Cheap eats in Agrigento
Agrigento eats like the rest of Sicily, only cheaper. A quick lunch is an arancina, a slice of sfincione or a panino with panelle, chickpea fritters. Afternoons are for granita and cannoli, and in February the almond trees of the valley flower for the Almond Blossom Festival. Most snacks cost €2-5.
- Infurna · Pastry shop on Via Atenea; cannoli and granita about €2-4
- Pasticceria Rizzo · Pastries near the cathedral, about €1.50-4
- Gastronomia Palumbo · Hot food counter by Piazza Pirandello; arancine about €2-3
- Skiticchio · Quick food on Via Pirandello, about €4-8
- M'arricrio · Piadina bar at the top of Via Atenea, about €5-8
Museums in Agrigento
- Pietro Griffo Archaeological Museum · Vases, the Telamon giant and the city's history; two hours
- Pirandello's birthplace · Small house-museum with letters and photos
- Monastery of Santo Spirito · Convent and nuns' sweets; small museum
- Santa Maria dei Greci · Church on a Greek temple
Nature and day trips near Agrigento
- Kolymbethra Garden · Citrus, almonds and shade inside the valley
- Scala dei Turchi · White cliff over the sea; view it from the beach
- Torre Salsa Reserve · Long wild beaches; no shade
- Eraclea Minoa · Cliff, pines and a beach below the ruins
Things to do in Agrigento with kids
- Temple of Olympian Zeus · Find the stone giant lying on the ground
- Farm Cultural Park · Colourful courtyards and playful art
- Valley of the Temples · Space to run between temples; bring hats
Where to eat in Agrigento
- Osteria Expanificio · Sicilian dishes on Piazza Sinatra, tables outside
- Ruga Reali · Courtyard restaurant off Via Atenea
- L'Ambasciata di Sicilia · Sicilian cooking on Via Atenea
- Trattoria dei Templi · Family trattoria on the way down to the valley
Frequently asked questions about Agrigento
What is there to see in Agrigento?
The top sights in Agrigento are Valley of the Temples, Temple of Concordia and Temple of Juno. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.
How many days do you need in Agrigento?
Three to four days are enough to see the best of Agrigento without rushing, including at least one walking tour.
Is there a free walking tour in Agrigento?
Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Agrigento, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: Along the ridge of temples.
How do you get to Agrigento and get around?
The main ways are Agrigento Centrale and Piazzale Rosselli bus station. Full details are in the transport section on this page.
Where to stay in Agrigento, and for how much?
sleepntrip shows only rooms in Agrigento that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.
Looking for a hotel in Agrigento for your dates?
Only rooms that meet nine conditions, up to $80 a night.