Agrigento: The Splendor of Sicily in Springtime

You’ve seen countless pictures of the Greek temples spread out over a ridge just south of the Sicilian town of Agrigento. “More ruins!” I hear you mumble sarcastically.

But hear me out. I have always had a soft spot for those temples. It’s not the temples themselves, but the stroll through history you can take. Go in springtime, when the tourists are few and the wildflowers are many. Layer upon layer of history is yours.

There are many ways of seeing the temples. From a cafe? A restaurant at night, when the temples are lighted? Oh, yeah.

The Temple of Concord,viewed spectacularly from the cafe/restaurant of the Villa Athena Villa Athena, marked on the map.

So…wildflowers you say?

And let’s throw in some temple columns, ok?

The Agrigento temples aren’t right on the sea, but they have distant views of the Mediterranean.

The Sicilian Carts of Raffaele La Scala

Also in Agrigento are the amazing Painted carts made by Raffaele La Scala in Agrigento.

The illustrations painted on the carts are usually of important historic events in Sicily, originally meant to keep in memory the turning points of local history for those who couldn’t read.

Sicilian carts were meant to be drawn by donkeys, especially for hard work along rough terrain. They could be drawn by horses as well. Some were used at weddings and festive occasions.

You can make reservations to see the cart through the website. Look for “Visite guidate” and fill out the email form.

Agrigento Map

In the middle of the map you’ll find the major temples: Temple of Olympic Jupiter, Temple of Concordia and Temple of Juno, connected via the Via Sacra.To the west of the temples is the transportation stop: Tempio di Vulcano.

Rating:
Unique: Greek temples and more
Not to Miss: “The Sicilian Carts of Raffaele La Scala and the nearby Turkish Steps
When to Go: Spring, April and May, when the maximum highs are 64 and 72 respectively. Nighttime lows near 60 in May, so gazing from an outdoor cafe is possible on warm nights. Easter is special in Sicily, expect religious processions on good Friday (Venerdi Santo).
Region: Sicily Map
Days: 2-3
: Yes, the Agrigento train station is located in the city center.
Parking: Free parking along the main street in the off season
Recommended Hotel and Restaurant: Villa Athene Expensive, but this is a great time to splurge!