Agrigento - The City

We left Trapani on the bus for Agrigento. By the looks of weather, we'd have to see the archaeological site in the afternoon and move on after only one night. Between the weather and bus schedule, it felt like we were heading into The Amazing Race. Luck would have it, our bus developed a mechanical problem half way, after many calls by our driver and about an hour wait, a replacement bus showed up. Driver and passengers all continued on the new bus. We were particularly relieved -- now it will be two nights in Agrigento with a whole day for the archaeological park.

Once we settled into our room, we spent the remainder of the afternoon walking around town. Agrigento is famous for the remains of the Greek temples in the valley below the town. The town, sits on a hill overlooking the sea, a favorite setting for Greek settlements, has had continuous occupation for over two millenniums, evidenced in one of the churches in town built on top of a Greek temple a millennium ago.

Today this wondrous town languishes in a slow decay. Much of the tourism to the Valley of Temples bypasses the town all together. Walking through town, efforts of renewal can easily be gleaned.

Waiting for the replacement bus.


The view from our hotel room.


The view inside our room. Wow!


View up to modern day Agrigento from the archaeological park.


View from modern town south to the Mediterranean.


View north of town.


Mobile grocery shop on the upper back streets.


Flower art in progress on the Old Town's main street.


And finished.


Art Installation on the steps of the Cathedral.


In Agrigento, we had our first and maybe last arancino ie Sicilian Stuffed Rice Ball. Why? It's not easy to find a vegetarian arancino, and second they are saturated with butter which I liked but Sun-Ling did not at all.


The train station.


The shop windows reveal Easter is coming.