In Agrigento, traces of antiquity, Pirandello’s literary heritage and a protected coastal landscape are not simply separate themes sitting side by side: they offer different ways to experience a visit. The Archaeological Area of Agrigento preserves the site of a Greek colony founded in the 6th century BC. The Valley of the Temples unfolds this history within a landscape of distinctive character.

Temples and Archaeological Finds

The Valley of the Temples includes the main Doric temples on the sacred hill of the ancient city and extends to the necropolis outside the city walls. In practical terms, this means the ancient city is revealed not only through individual structures, but also through the relationship between the hill and the burial ground beyond the walls.

The Museo Archeologico Regionale Pietro Griffo offers a different perspective. As of August 2026, the verified collection comprised 5,688 archaeological finds. Arranged chronologically and topographically, they illustrate the history of the Agrigento area from prehistoric times to the end of the Greco-Roman period. The chronological arrangement takes visitors through different eras, while the topographical arrangement adds insight into their spatial relationships. The collection total may change as a result of future cataloguing or display updates.

Pirandello at the Museum, Birthplace and Theatre

You can encounter Luigi Pirandello’s life and work at several places, each highlighting different aspects. The Casa Museo Pirandello displays personal belongings, photographs, awards, reviews, letters and manuscripts. It also features first editions with handwritten dedications and posters for well-known works. Guided literary walks to places, landscapes, events and people from Pirandello’s life and work also start at the Casa Museo. Check before your trip whether the tours are available.

The writer’s birthplace is in the rural Contrada known as “Caos”, on the cliff coast between the municipality of Agrigento (4 km) and Porto Empedocle. The Teatro Pirandello adds its own history to this literary perspective: it opened to the public in 1880. The ceiling and the fronts of the boxes are decorated with work by well-known 19th-century painters.

Garden Visit and Underground Tour

The Giardino della Kolymbethra is a publicly accessible FAI heritage site in Parco Valle dei Templi, in the area of the Temple of the Dioscuri in Agrigento. During your visit, you can explore the garden as a distinct part of the archaeological landscape. A 40-minute tour of the hypogea is also available for small groups of six. It includes an introduction, preparation and equipment, and an approximately 20-minute walk through a hypogeum with staff from the Associazione Agrigento Sotterranea. Check whether this offer is available before your trip.

Coastal Trails and Wildlife at Torre Salsa

A striking contrast to the ancient cultural landscape is the Riserva Naturale Torre Salsa, a 761.62-hectare oriented nature reserve in Siculiana in the Province of Agrigento. Narrow paths pass through vegetation and rocks on the way to a beach with well-preserved coastal dune vegetation. The beaches and coastal dunes provide nesting grounds for the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta. At the Pantano, you may spot the endemic Sicilian pond turtle, Emys trinacris; sightings are seasonal and not guaranteed. At Torre Salsa, coastal vegetation and wildlife take centre stage, while the Valley of the Temples is defined by its archaeological structures and their place within the ancient city.

Getting There and a Local Specialty

You can travel by train to Agrigento from Palermo or Caltanissetta, then take a bus to the Valle dei Templi; local buses also depart from the Piazzale Rosselli bus station. Check connections before your trip, as transport arrangements may change.

A local specialty is also part of discovering Agrigento: cafés and ice cream shops serve gelato pecorino, a delicate ice cream made with sheep’s milk ricotta that is considered a typical specialty of the Agrigentino area. Availability depends on the individual establishment.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Agrigento, Porto Empedocle, Realmonte, Licata, Menfi, Porto Palo Di Menfi, Raffadali, Ribera, Sciacca, Siculiana, Casteltermini, Bivona, Canicattì, San Leone, Siculiana Marina, Cianciana, Santa Margherita Di Belice, Favara, Montevago, Campobello Di Licata, Alessandria Della Rocca, Sambuca Di Sicilia, Aragona, Palma Di Montechiaro, Borgo Bonsignore, Racalmuto, Montallegro, Castrofilippo, Caltabellotta, Borsellino, Montaperto, Cammarata, Villaggio Mosè, Santo Stefano Quisquina, Naro, Cattolica Eraclea, Lampedusa, Fiumenaro, Sant'anna, Villaggio Pirandello, Burgio, Villaseta, Sant'angelo Muxaro, Ravanusa, Joppolo Giancaxio, Grotte, Località Maragani, Lampedusa e Linosa, Zingarello, San Biagio Platani, Contrada Fiori Sud, Torre di Gaffe, Eraclea Minoa, Lucca Sicula.

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