Agrigento

The best-preserved ancient Greek temples outside mainland Greece, the white cliffs of the Scala dei Turchi ("Turkish Steps") coast, and day trips to the Roman mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale.

Agrigento is on Sicily's south coast. In ancient Greek times it was called Akragas and was one of the most prosperous cities in the Mediterranean; today's city sits on a hilltop, while the UNESCO-listed Valley of the Temples lies on the ridge to the south below it, about 3 km from the sea. Sightseeing areas: ① the Valley of the Temples with the Archaeological Museum and the Kolymbethra Garden, with night visits in summer; ② the hilltop old town, where Via Atenea has churches, convent sweets and viewpoints; ③ the coastline: Scala dei Turchi, Torre Salsa and Eraclea Minoa to the west, Punta Bianca beach and Montechiaro Castle to the east, and the San Leone seafront to the south; ④ day trips: the Roman mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale to the northeast, and Sciacca and Selinunte to the northwest. Best seasons: the Almond Blossom Festival in February–March; April–June and September–October are pleasant; July–August is scorching, so visit the temples early in the morning or at night, while the beaches are busiest. Getting there: there is no airport; from Palermo or Catania airport it takes about 2 hours by bus or rental car, and about 2 hours by train from Palermo. Sights are spread out, so driving is strongly recommended. Suggested time: 2–3 days. Notes: bring plenty of water and sun protection in summer; do not drive into the old town's restricted zone (ZTL); the white sea cliffs are prone to collapse, so do not climb them.

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