Girgenti

Girgenti is the historic Italian name for the city now known as Agrigento, located on the southern coast of Sicily. It remains a reference in older texts and local usage. Agrigento is the capital of the province of Agrigento and sits on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean, near the renowned Valley of the Temples.

Origins and history: The site was the Greek colony of Akragas, founded in the 6th century BCE. It developed into one of Magna Graecia’s leading cities, celebrated for wealth and monumental architecture. It was later controlled by Carthage and then incorporated into the Roman world. After the decline of the Western Roman Empire, the area remained a regional center through the medieval period.

Valle dei Templi: The nearby Valle dei Templi is a major archaeological site where several Doric temples survive, including the Temple of Concordia. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its exceptional remains of ancient Greek urban planning and architecture.

Name changes and modern era: In 1927 the Italian government officially renamed the city Agrigento, aligning the modern town with its ancient heritage. Today, the city has about 60,000 inhabitants. The economy relies on tourism, agriculture, and services, with the historic town and the temples drawing visitors from around the world.