Do you want to get to know Via Atenea in Agrigento better? Well, you’ve come to the right place, and you just need to read our article today. Via Atenea is the main street of Agrigento’s historic center and is indeed considered the “main living room” of the city.
Its winding path extends from Porta di Ponte to Piazza L. Pirandello (also known as Piazza Municipio). Throughout its length, it is intersected by a series of streets and alleyways, stairways, and narrow lanes. Despite its distinctly medieval appearance, many of the buildings and churches along it have quite interesting baroque features.
Via Atenea, in particular, is the most important commercial area of the entire city, and indeed, you will find numerous clothing and dining establishments that contrast starkly with the ancient churches and the most sumptuous noble palaces.
Via Atenea, also known as Via Maestra, has been the main road and urban axis of the beautiful city of Agrigento for several centuries. Until 1860, it was largely a simple dirt path, full of holes and significant unevenness. Along the way, various palaces belonging to the wealthiest families could be admired, all characterized by entrance portals, balcony frames, and windows, as well as “goose breast” railings.
With the Unification of Italy, the city and Via Atenea experienced a general revival, giving the street a much more decorous appearance: the path was improved, and the ground was leveled. Dilapidated houses and old shops were replaced by new stores and buildings characterized by neoclassical forms and linear architecture.
What to do and where to stay on Via Atenea in Agrigento?
At the beginning of Via Atenea, on the right side, almost adjacent to Porta di Ponte, is the Scalinata Madonna degli Angeli, which originally bordered the last stretch of the eastern walls descending from the top of the Rupe Atenea hill and connecting to Porta di Ponte.
The staircase leads to the church of the same name, and continuing along the path, you will find historic palaces belonging to the wealthiest families, whose facades and balconies are adorned with beautiful decorations, some in relief, as well as columns of various kinds.
The famous Via Atenea in Agrigento is classified as the place where the limited traffic zone begins. From here, narrow alleys and steep stairways branch off, leading you to visit all the main sights of this beautiful Agrigento city.
But where can you stay on Via Atenea? We can certainly recommend Scalia House, an apartment just 700 meters from Luigi Pirandello Theater and only 400 meters from Agrigento train station. The apartment offers free WiFi, air conditioning, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Lastly, a convenient feature of this property is that it offers excellent privacy thanks to its independent entrance.