Discover Agrigento: Temples, Coast and Pirandello

Agrigento combines the history of a Greek colony with the Sicilian coast, nature and the literary world of Luigi Pirandello. At its heart is the Archaeological Area of Agrigento: it preserves the site of a Greek colony founded in the 6th century BC. The Valley of the Temples comprises the most important Doric temples on the sacred hill of the ancient city and extends to the necropolis located outside the city walls.

Ancient history and distinctive cultural sites

Those interested in the development of the area will find 5,688 archaeological artefacts at the Museo Archeologico Regionale Pietro Griffo. They are arranged chronologically and topographically and illustrate the history from prehistoric times to the end of the Greco-Roman era. The Teatro Pirandello offers another perspective on Agrigento; it opened to the public in 1880. Its ceiling and the fronts of the boxes feature decoration created by renowned 19th-century painters.

The cultural landscape also includes the Casa Museo Pirandello. Personal belongings, photographs, awards, reviews, letters, manuscripts, first editions with handwritten dedications and posters for well-known works by Luigi Pirandello are displayed there. Guided literary tours start at the Casa Museo and take visitors to places, landscapes, events and people from his life and work. His birthplace is in the rural Contrada “Caos” on the cliffs between the municipal area of Agrigento, 4 km away, and Porto Empedocle.

Gardens, caves and the coast of Torre Salsa

The Giardino della Kolymbethra is located in the Parco Valle dei Templi, in the area of the Temple of the Dioscuri. This FAI heritage site is open to the public and complements the ancient structures with an independent landscape and cultural site. A 40-minute tour of the hypogea is also available in small groups of six people. It includes an introduction, preparation and equipment, as well as a roughly 20-minute tour of the hypogeum accompanied by staff from the Associazione Agrigento Sotterranea.

For days immersed in nature, the Riserva Naturale Torre Salsa in Siculiana offers a clear contrast to the archaeological sites. The managed nature reserve in the Province of Agrigento covers 761.62 hectares. Narrow paths lead through vegetation and rocks to a beach with preserved coastal dune vegetation. The beaches and coastal dunes serve as nesting sites for the loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta; in the Pantano, visitors can observe the endemic Sicilian pond turtle Emys trinacris.

Between culture, landscapes and regional destinations

Visitor information for the Giardino della Kolymbethra mentions travelling by train from Palermo or Caltanissetta to Agrigento, followed by a bus ride to the Valle dei Templi. Local buses also run from the Piazzale Rosselli bus station.

The Itinerarium Rosaliae also broadens the view beyond individual attractions. The approximately 187 km route crosses the Parco dei Monti Sicani, nature reserves and other natural areas, passing through 15 municipalities. It can be travelled on foot, by bicycle or on horseback, following royal routes, mule tracks, hiking trails and disused railway lines.

A regional speciality is gelato pecorino. Cafés and pastry shops in Agrigento offer this delicate ice cream made from sheep’s-milk ricotta as a typical and unique speciality of the Agrigentino area. In spring 2026, Mandorlo in Fiore was also scheduled to take place in Agrigento from 7 to 15 March. The event included performances, music, dancing, entertainment and gastronomic initiatives and was held together with the 68th International Folklore Festival and the 23rd International Festival “I Bambini del Mondo” as the 78th Mandorlo in Fiore.

Other places around Agrigento

For further regional searches, you can also find Agrigento, Porto Empedocle, Realmonte, Licata, Menfi, Porto Palo di Menfi, Raffadali, Ribera, Sciacca, Siculiana, Casteltermini, Bivona, Canicattì, San Leone, Siculiana Marina, Cianciana, Santa Margherita Di Belice, Favara, Montevago, Campobello Di Licata, Alessandria Della Rocca, Sambuca Di Sicilia, Aragona, Palma Di Montechiaro, Borgo Bonsignore, Racalmuto, Montallegro, Castrofilippo, Caltabellotta, Borsellino, Montaperto, Cammarata, Villaggio Mosè, Santo Stefano Quisquina, Villaseta, Località Maragani, Torre di Gaffe, Naro, Cattolica Eraclea, Lampedusa, Fiumenaro, Sant'anna, Villaggio Pirandello, Burgio, Sant'angelo Muxaro, Ravanusa, Grotte, Joppolo Giancaxio, Lampedusa e Linosa, Zingarello, San Biagio Platani, Contrada Fiori Sud, Eraclea Minoa and Lucca Sicula are available.