When visiting Sicily, it’s common to prioritize the well-known major cities. However, if we consider Agrigento, we should know that there are many charming villages to visit in the province of Agrigento. Let’s start by talking briefly about the beautiful city of temples, a hillside city on the southwestern coast of Sicily. As mentioned earlier, Agrigento is famous for the ruins of the ancient city of Akragas and the Valley of the Temples, a vast archaeological site with well-preserved Greek temples.
On the outskirts of this modern city, you’ll find the Regional Archaeological Museum of Agrigento, which houses notable artifacts and a telamon (a giant male statue). To the west, there’s the Scala dei Turchi, an unusual white cliff characterized by many steps overlooking sandy beaches.
Additionally, nestled on a hill, we find the beautiful Sambuca di Sicilia, founded by the Arabs around the year 830. The history of this village is very long, with many events that have left traces in the buildings and urban structure of the place. Starting from the 4th century BC archaeological complex on Mount Adranone, you can also admire Baroque facades and 19th-century palaces. Outside the historic center, you can see the ancient towers of Pandolfina and Cellaro, as well as the Mazzallakkar fort, whose towers emerge in the summer when the level of Lake Arancio drops.
What are the most beautiful villages to visit in the province of Agrigento?
Have you ever heard of Comitini? It’s a place to visit in Sicily for those who want to retrace the steps of Italian Unification. In this small village, you can admire the Petra di Calathansuderj, along with the 30-meter rock on which the first Italian Tricolor flag was hoisted in 1859. However, what makes this village beautiful is also the captivating mining park with 70 archaic mines.
When talking about small villages, one cannot fail to mention Naro. Legend has it that this village is very ancient and was built by Giants. Moreover, its territory is rich with evidence of its ancient history, such as the remains of early Christian settlements, particularly catacombs, and Roman villas.
Furthermore, moving away from Agrigento, we find Custonaci, the village of marble quarries, beautiful sunsets over the sea, and Mount Cofano overlooking the water. There’s also the “village within the village” carved into the rock, hosting a beautiful living nativity scene. This place is also known as “terra Mariana,” devoted to the Madonna of Custonaci, depicted in a painting said to have arrived from the sea.
Finally, we suggest the beautiful village of Palma di Montechiaro, which was the setting for the famous novel “The Leopard,” especially notable in the cathedral with its twin bell towers, one of the most beautiful structures in the village. Visitors to this village are immediately struck by the imposing “Calvary,” which rises majestically on the eponymous hill.
