🇮🇹Italy · Places to discover
What to see in Agrigento?
20 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Agrigente's reputation rests on a ridge where a dozen Greek temples have survived two and a half millennia in the open Sicilian air. The Valle dei Templi is not a reconstructed site: the Doric columns of the Temple of Concordia are original, standing since the 5th century BC. The modern town, meanwhile, goes about its own business, indifferent to the stream of tour coaches filing past below.
Allow a minimum of two days: one for the archaeological site early in the morning before the heat sets in, another for the historic centre and regional archaeological museum, which provides essential context. The best periods are March to May or September to October. Don't stay solely in Porto Empedocle in pursuit of being near the sea; you'll lose time and comfort without genuine benefit. By car from Palermo or Catania, allow approximately two hours.
Landmarks & heritage
2 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Landmark
Montelusa Necropolis
Little-known rock-cut funeral site with tombs carved into limestone dating from the Bronze Age. Often unguarded and uncrowded, offering authentic archaeological immersion.
- 2
Landmark
Landmark
Hellenistic-Roman Quarter
Remains of an ancient residential district featuring mosaics and house plans from the 2nd century BC. Often deserted by tourists, it's an ideal spot for a solitary walk through history.
Museums
2 places
3Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5Museum
Pietro Griffo Regional Archaeological Museum
One of Sicily's richest archaeological museums, housing the reconstructed Telamon and exceptional Greek and Roman collections. Essential for understanding the grandeur of Akragas.
4Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Museum
Civico Museum Biblioteca Lucchesiana
One of Sicily's oldest public libraries, founded in 1765, housing rare manuscripts and ancient editions. A hidden gem tucked away in the upper town.
Religious sites
8 places
5Wikimedia CommonsReligious site
Abbey of Santo Spirito
Cistercian abbey founded in 1290, amongst Sicily's best-preserved. The nuns still sell their almond and honey pastries according to medieval recipes.
6Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Religious site
Temple of Concordia
One of the world's best-preserved Greek temples, dating to the 5th century BC. Its golden hue at sunset is an unforgettable spectacle. Essential viewing in the Valley of the Temples.
- 7
Religious site
Religious site
Temple of Vulcan (Hephaestus)
Discreet remains of the Temple of Vulcan, often overlooked by hurrying visitors. Two isolated columns rising from wild vegetation create a romantic, melancholic atmosphere.
- 8
Religious site
Religious site
Church of Santa Maria dei Greci
A small medieval church built directly atop the columns of a 5th-century BC Doric temple. In the crypt, the shafts of Greek columns remain visible in the floor.
- 9
Religious site
Religious site
Cathedral of Agrigento
Founded in the 11th century over the remains of a Greek temple, this Norman cathedral dominates the upper town with its unfinished bell tower. The Baroque interior conceals layers of thousand-year history.
- 10
Religious site
Religious site
Temple of Heracles
The oldest temple in the valley, with just eight columns still standing. The solitary, wild atmosphere surrounding this temple makes it the most romantic spot on the site.
- 11
Religious site
Religious site
Temple of Juno (Hera Lacinia)
Perched at the eastern end of the ridge, this temple commands sweeping views across the valley and sea. Scorch marks on the columns bear witness to the Carthaginian sack of 406 BC.
- 12
Religious site
Religious site
Temple of Zeus Olympian
Colossal ruins of the largest Doric temple ever built, with the famous giant telamons sprawled across the ground. Its monumental scale leaves visitors speechless, even in ruins.
Parks & gardens
1 place
13Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Park
Giardino della Kolymbetra
A lush garden nestled in a valley between the temples, managed by the FAI (Italy's equivalent of the National Trust). Citrus groves, thousand-year-old olive trees and ancient irrigation channels set within unexpected verdant splendour.
Viewpoints
3 places
- 14
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Rupe Atenea
Agrigento's natural high point at 326 metres, commanding panoramic views across the city, the Valley of the Temples, and the sea. Locals climb here at evening to catch the breeze.
- 15
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Terrace of Via Atenea
The main street of the upper town ends at a natural terrace overlooking the Valley of the Temples and the Mediterranean Sea. Evening bustle makes it the vibrant heart of Agrigento.
- 16
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Belvedere Panoramico Via Panoramica dei Templi
A viewpoint along the Temple Road offering the classic perspective of the Temple of Concord with the sea beyond. Sunset here is an experience in itself.
Activities
2 places
17Wikimedia CommonsActivity
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele Market
A weekly market where local producers sell vegetables, cheeses, olives, and almonds from the Agrigentine hills. The finest place to experience the authentic rhythm of city life.
- 18
Activity
Activity
Valley of the Temples – Night-Time Guided Tour
In summer, the site opens after dark and the temples illuminated against the Sicilian night sky create an atmosphere impossible to capture by day. An experience that transforms the conventional visit.
Beaches
2 places
19Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Beach
San Leone Beach
The town's main beach, lively in the evenings with waterfront fish restaurants. Less dramatic than the Scala dei Turchi, but this is where Agrigentines spend their summers.
- 20
Beach
Beach
Maddalusa Beach
A quieter stretch of fine sand bordered by pine groves, favoured by local families who know the best spots away from the summer crowds.
Also 🇮🇹 in Italy
