how to print and assembling assembleguide the the guide f Starting with the printer set-up: Fold the sheet exactly in the select A4 format centre, along an imaginary line, and change keeping the printed side to the the direction of the paper f outside, from vertical to horizontal. repeat this operation for all pages. We can start to Now you will have a mountain of print your guide, ☺ flapping sheets in front of you, in the new and fast pdf format do not worry, we are almost PDF there, the only thing left to do, is to re-bind the whole guide by the edges of the longest sides of the sheets, with a normal Now you will have stapler (1) or, for a more printed the whole document aesthetic result, referring the work to a bookbinder asking for spiral binding(2). Congratulations, you are now Suggestions “EXPERT PUBLISHERS”. When folding the sheet, we would suggest placing pressure with your fingers on the side to be folded, so that it might open up, but if you want to permanently remedy this problem, 1 2 it is enough to apply a very small amount of glue. THE AGRIGENTO CITY GUIDE © Netplan - Internet solutions for tourism © Netplan - Internet solutions for tourism © 2005 Netplan srl. All rights reserved. All material on this document is © Netplan. © Netplan - Internet solutions for tourism Photos courtesy of: AAPIT Agrigento and APT Trapani THE AGRIGENTO CITY GUIDE 1 Summary THINGS TO KNOW 3 Getting there 4 History and culture THINGS TO SEE 5 Churches and Museums 7 Valley of the Temples THINGS TO TRY 9 Eating and Drinking 10 Shopping 11 Hotels and lodgings THINGS TO EXPERIENCE 12 Events ITINERARIES 14 Beaches, marinas and nature reserves 15 The Etruscan coast 16 Volterra and Val di Cecina © Netplan - Internet solutions for tourism THE AGRIGENTO CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO KNOW 3 4 THE AGRIGENTO CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO KNOW Getting there History and culture connections to other destinations in Sicily the Arab and Norman occupations. In the 9th are scarce. If you are arriving from Taormina century, the Arabs built a new city, which still or Catania, you will have to change trains stands today as both medieval and modern once or twice. For train schedules, consult Agrigento. In 1087, they were succeeded by Trenitalia’s website, or call their toll-free the Norman occupation. With the construction number: 89 20 21. The best way to arrive of numerous churches, the Normans gave new and depart to and from Agrigento is by bus, life to the Christian arts and culture. The which leaves from the Piazza Rosselli station fortifications they built defended Agrigento (Tourist Information +39.0922.20391). from the incursions of Saracen pirates. The 18th century marked another cardinal By plane: Palermo Airport (PMO) offers moment for the history of the city: the direct flights from all major Italian airports, flowering of the baroque period in Agrigento, and low-cost connections with European evident today in nearly all the churches in the cities such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Köln, city. In the following years, the city suffered London, and others. From the airport, the under the ill-governing of the Bourbons, as did shuttle train “Trinacria Express” leaves about all of Sicily, until 1860, when Sicily officially every half hour from Palermo Central Station, linked itself with the Kingdom of Italy. The with many trains going to Agrigento (about a 20th century marked the advent of chaotic 2 hour trip). There is also a bus service which construction development in the city, which runs from the airport directly to Agrigento, has threatened the very integrity of the Agrigento: the Temple of the Dioscuri operated by SAL (Phone: +39.0922.401360). Mazara del Vallo: Regional Archeological Museum archeological zone. An alternative is the International Airport of Agrigento lies along the south coast of Sicily, Catania (CTA) which offers connections with The history of Agrigento begins in 581 connected to the rest of the island by an all the major Italian and European airports, b.C., when it was founded under the name extensive network of streets and by rail. including all the capital cities. SAIS Trasporti of Akragas by a group of Greek colonists. operates a bus service running directly from The city reached the height of its splendor By car: from Taormina, take the Autostrada the airport to Agrigento (about a 2.5 hour in the 5th century B.C. under the tyrant A18 for Catania. Continue on the A19 toward trip). Tenore, who extended his dominion out to the Palermo and take the Caltanissetta exit. northern coasts of Sicily. During this period, Continue on Statale 640 until you reach art and culture were intensely pursued in the Agrigento. From Palermo, take Autostrada A19 city. It was in this period that the temple of toward Catania, and exit at Villabate. Follow Olympian Zeus was constructed, as well most Statale 121 and continue for 118 km until of the other temples, rendering Agrigento, you reach Agrigento. From Siracusa, follow according to the Greek poet Pindaro, “The the coastal route on Statale 115 via Noto, most beautiful among the dwellings of Ragusa and Gela until you reach Agrigento. mortals.” The year 406 was a tragic one in the If you are coming from continental Italy, history of Agrigento: the city was defeated take Autostrada A3 Salerno-Reggio Calabria, by Hannibal and the Carthaginians, who and exit at Villa San Giovanni, then take the completed destroyed the city. Agrigento was ferryboat for Messina. From Messina, take the refounded in the 4th century by the statesman Autostrada A18 for Catania. Continue on the and general Timoleon. During this period, A19 toward Catania-Palermo and take the the new Hellenic quarter was constructed, Caltanissetta exit. Continue on Statale 640 signaling the grand rebirth of Hellenistic art until you reach Agrigento. and culture in Agrigento, until 210 B.C., when the city came under Roman rule. By train: Agrigento has a train station, but After the fall of Imperial Rome, the city did except for Palermo (about 2 hours away), not return to its former splendor until after © Netplan - Internet solutions for tourism © Netplan - Internet solutions for tourism THE AGRIGENTO CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO SEE 5 6 THE AGRIGENTO CITY GUIDE / THINGS TO SEE Churches and Museums unfinished bell tower, which is embellished and her stepson Hippolitus, who was exiled or by a richly decorated balcony. The inside, killed by order of Phaedra because he did not divided in three naves, is a triumph of baroque return her love. decoration. But perhaps most impressive is the wood ceiling, richly adorned so that it Pirandello’s House appears to be a hanging garden. Make sure to South of Agrigento and the Valley of the visit the chapel of San Gerlando, in the right Temples, lies the birthplace of the playwright transept. Pirandello. The house has been converted into a museum, preserving both written and The Church of Santo Spirito graphic materials: family photos, portraits of is a Cistercian convent, constructed in 1260, the writer, theatrical images, manuscripts, its beautiful gothic portal surmounted by a and editions of theatrical works and novels. rose window. The inside is a single nave with Make sure to follow the short path through enclosed sculptures in stucco. Make sure to the pines, where Pirandello loved to sit visit the adjoining convent, with its beautiful and contemplate. This is where the author cloister, where you can purchase local sweets wanted to be buried. A simple stone marker, of almonds and pistachios, made by the nuns retouched by the sculptor Mazzacurati, guards who live here. the urn containing the ashes of the Master. Regional Archaeological Museum Agrigento: the Cathedral Hours: Open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Agrigento, medieval and modern, rises from Located between the modern city and the tops of the hills that dominate the Valley the Valley of the Temples, in the center of the Temples. The nucleus of the city is a of the Hellenistic-Roman quarter. The 18- labyrinth of alleyways and courtyards with a room museum holds numerous interesting classically Arab flavor. Entering this labyrinth, findings from Agrigento and the surrounding one discovers a treasure trove of churches region, arranged by expository theme. The and buildings. museum contains an outstanding collection of Attic vases, including the famous Crater The entry into the medieval city is Aldo Moro of Dionysus, as well as the marble statue of square. From here begins the 18th century Ephebus of Agrigento, a young athlete who Via Atenea, flanked by old buildings, shops lived in the 5th century B.C. and pleasant cafés. Along Via Atenea lies the baroque church of San Lorenzo; to the left Church of San Nicola of the church is the open entrance to the Next to the Archeological Museum stands the ancient hypogeum, a web of subterranean Church of San Nicola. aqueducts built in the 5th century B.C. This church, constructed in the 13th century, is made of volcanic rock taken from ruins of The Cathedral the Temple of Zeus. can be reached by going up the alleys from Entering through the beautiful Romanesque Piazza Pirandello. The building is preceded portal, you will come upon the unique nave. by a spectacular grand staircase. Its The second chapel to the left contains the construction dates from the 11th century, but Roman sarcophagus of Hippolitus and Phaedra, it has undergone many alterations through much loved by Goethe during his stay in the centuries, giving it a completely unique Agrigento. The sarcophagus is decorated with appearance.