Ladies and gentlemen: Agrigento!

The third day of your tour is devoted to discover the temples of western Sicily: you must make a stop in Agrigento, founded around 581 BC. The history around the name of this city is fascinating: Ἀκράγας for the Greeks, Agrigentum for the Romans, Kerkent or Gergent for the Arabs. The Normans called it Girgenti, the official name of the city until 1927, when in the Fascist period it was decided to use the name that the city had during the Roman rule, therefore Agrigento! Until 1853 its territory also embraced the municipality of Porto Empedocle. It is known all over the world as the City of Temples thanks to a valley full of Doric temples, belonging to the Greek period, which gave life to the ancient city and rise to the famous Valley of the Temples, a World Heritage UNESCO Site since 1997 and one of the biggest archaeological park in the world. So, like every stage of this tour, Agrigento is also worth in satisfying your desire in discovering our beauties: just remember that the Greek poet Pindar defined it as the most beautiful city of mortals.

The Valley of the Temples has been a regional archaeological park since 2000. It was added by UNESCO, in 1997, to the prestigious list of "World Heritage Sites" because Agrigento still represents Greek culture, as well as being one of the main examples of Greek art still in an excellent state of conservation. There are seven temples that rise in this valley, in Doric style, built in the local limestone tuff, starting from the 5th century BC: the temple of Juno, the Temple of Concord, almost intact, whose name it derives from a Latin inscription found near the temple itself; the Temple of Heracles, which appears to be the most ancient of all temples, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, characterized by the Telamons, huge statues with human features; the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple of Vulcan, the Temple of Aesculapius, to which is added the Tomb of Theron, in memory of the fallen of the Second Punic War. Each temple rises facing the sun, to the east, so that the statue of the divinity inside could, for eternity, live on the light of the rising sun. The Valley of the Temples consecrates Agrigento as the cradle of history, as it has been its hub for many centuries. Throughout this area, each stone is a significant testimony of the Greek civilization in Sicily. Countryside of almond trees and flowers cradle the valley, nature that makes it immortal. The Valley of the Temples is open from 8.30 to 19.00 every day including Sundays and holidays. If you want to discover all the other incredible UNESCO sites in Sicily, here is a suggested auditor from izi.TRAVEL!

The excellence of taste in the historic center of Agrigento is represented by the Osteria Expanificio, awarded with the Bib Gourmand by the Michelin 2021 guide, a place obtained from an old post-war bakery, as the name recalls, where the atmosphere is at at the same time homemade and refined. The menu offers proposals of land food and sea food. The list of dishes that I recommend to try is very long. Get ready to savor poems of flavors, mixed with music of perfumes, bathed in the wines of the most important Sicilian labels: pasta with bottarga, lime and scampi, with a fresh and decisive taste, pasta with sea urchins, creamed cod, octopus, eggplant and sword millefeuille but also silversmith-style caciocavallo, eggplant pie, paccheri with sausage and pepper cream, spaghetti with tomato sauce, eggplant and pecorino in flakes and many others that you do before going to the restaurant!!! Each dish made with mastery in the use of excellent raw materials, as well as the highly professional and never intrusive service, and one thing that never hurts: an excellent quality / price ratio. Not to be missed!

After such a spectacular lunch, which has certainly made you happy, it is now time to feed your soul, searching for beauty, with a walk through the historic center of Agrigento, located on the western top of the ancient hill of Girgenti, where still stand up medieval buildings such as churches, monasteries, convents and noble palaces. Here you can find the most important examples of Arab-Norman art, among all the cathedral of San Gerlando known for its beauty but, above all, for a singular phenomenon called spokesman; in fact, according to tradition, from the apse, thanks to the silence that reigns inside the cathedral, it is possible to hear what is whispered at the entrance. But there are many artistic beauties represented in the buildings of the historic center of Agrigento. During your walk do not forget to pass by the Palazzo Steri, which was a palace founded by the Chiaramonte family and now seat of the seminary, the bishop's palace, the Basilica of Santa Maria dei Greci and the monumental complex of Santo Spirito Monastery, with the gates of the walls.

Viale della Vittoria is one of the main streets of the city. The beginnings of its construction date back to the mid-19th century and over the years it has undergone many changes in the name, in the ornament, in order to make it fascinating but functional. There are many commercial activities along the way: bars, restaurants, pizzerias, ice cream shops, pubs, high quality clothing stores and many others. You can enjoy an excellent view of the valley of the temples and a beautiful view of the Mediterranean. Continuing to walk along the avenue you reach the largest villa in the city: Villa Bonfiglio (Parco della Rimembranza in 1920), with an obelisk in white Carrara marble, in memory of the fallen from Agrigento of the Great War, located in the center of a circular fountain where perennial water flows. A perfect place for a relaxing walk because the long avenue starts from Piazza Guglielmo Marconi, where there is the Central Station and you can park your car to visit the historic center by foot. Have a good walk!

After enjoying the beauties of the city, you can reach your B&B Duomo Rent Room & Flat, where you can rest for the evening that awaits you in the city of temples par excellence. Here you will feel at home, with all the comforts and typical pampering that Sicilian hospitality reserves.

Reassured by your tiredness, take the car, turn on the music you like best and leave for the restaurant La Madia. This is one of the most famous restaurant in Sicily, thanks to the 2 Michelin star chef, Pino Cuttaia, in Licata. The journey of about 50 minutes will be worth it! Chef Pino Cuttaia loves being in the dining room, he is among his diners, with whom he talks nicely, also giving explanations on the research behind the chosen dish and its composition. He and his staff are very kind! You will feel at the center of attention, because a real culinary journey will be offered to you and it will be like a visit to a museum: each course is a work of art. Your experience will start from the eyes, cross the palate, until it reaches the heart. The place is really very elegant, thanks to the simplicity with which the chef proposes his dishes, linked to the tradition of beautiful things that the Sicilian people have in their memory.

Built on a small bay, at the port of San Leone, Aqualizer café directly overlooks the beach. An excellent after dinner, returning from Licata to Agrigento, to immerse yourself again in the modern world after so much ancient history! It is good at all times: beautiful and very relaxing at sunset, at aperitif time, but you can still hold back because the dances last until late at night, a real open-air disco. It is now a consolidated reality in the Agrigento nightlife, always in step with the times and in continuous transformation. The staff is very friendly, the minimal location is ideal during the day, exceptional at sunset and excellent at night!

What a noteworthy time jump today! On the notes of the wild music still roaring in your ears ... Goodnight.