Trip to Agrigento, Sicily (July 2017)

Agrigento is a hilltop city on Sicily's southwest shore. It is known for the ruins of the ancient city of Akragas and the Valley of the Temples, a vast archaeological site with well-preserved Greek temples. Naturally, it is one of the most visited cities in Sicily. Agrigento is one of three most important Greek towns in Sicily along with Syracusa and Taormina.

We had lunch at Marco Polo Restaurant, eating grilled chicken, salad and fettuccine pasta.

On the modern city's outskirts is the Museo Archeologico Regionale Agrigento, with artifacts and a telamon (giant male statue lying on the ground). West lies Scala dei Turchi, an unusual stepped white cliff overlooking sandy beaches. This site is a UNESCO heritage site. It was said that only 10% of the site has been excavated.

Temple of Juno was the first site we visited.

Tombs were built in the rocks of the city walls all made naturally.

The first temple we visited was Temple of Concordia. It has been well preserved. A 600 year old olive tree was still productive bearing olives. Wow...

A statue of a man was lying on the ground. I felt curious and found out that it is called Statua di Icaro caduto. It must have been an angel. And the statue is quite sizable that people can stand under his head. He is left without any fence. Due to reverse sunlight, my photo was not clear, so I borrowed a better picture from Google.

The last temple we visited was Temple of Ercole (Heracles)

Something must be in display at the site about the old Akragas.

There were several Agrigento goats. They are believed to have originated from Africa or Middle East. Apparently, they are not producing enough milk and people have shunned away from raising them. Now they exist only for display. Sad. 

I enjoyed the sunset lying down by the swimming pool as the hotel was right at the beach, Hotel Dioscruri Bay Palace in San Leone.

A large plaza in a major town was called in different names. Greeks called it Agora and Romans Forums. Mexicans call it Zocalos. In English, they call it Plaza. But they all mean the same. Languages change and adopt. - Jeffrey