Agrigento

Agrigento is a city on the southern coast of Sicily, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Agrigento and an important urban center in the region. The modern town sits along the Mediterranean coast, opposite the elevated archaeological landscape known as the Valley of the Temples, and the ancient Greek name Akragas is preserved in the nearby ruins.

Historically, the area was settled in antiquity. The Greek colony of Akragas rose in the 6th century BCE and became a leading city of Magna Graecia, renowned for wealth and monumental architecture. Over the centuries it came under Carthaginian and Roman rule and later experienced successive dominations that shaped its medieval and modern urban fabric.

The Valle dei Templi is the principal archaeological site and a major tourist attraction. It contains well-preserved or restored temples such as the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Hera, and the temples attributed to Zeus and Heracles. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated in 1997, for its representation of classical Greek urban planning and architecture.

The local economy is driven by tourism, services, and agriculture, with olives and citrus fruits among its products. The city houses the Museo Archeologico Regionale di Agrigento, which houses artifacts from the Valle dei Templi and other sites. The modern town also serves as a base for visiting nearby beaches and medieval and baroque sites in the region.