The Historical centre of Agrigento includes the most important and interesting attractions of this beautiful city.
Built on top of a hill on a sloping site, the location of the city of Agrigento has been chosen in the Middle Ages for defensive purposes and the closeness to the harbour that facilitated the trade industry. Known as Kerkent for the Arabs, Gergent for the Normans and as Girgenti until 1927, the historic centre of Agrigento has had various names and influences.
Discover all of the corners of this city and get lost in the labyrinthine streets until you stumble upon significant monuments. Testimony of Agrigento’s multicultural history are the Arabe maze streets and courtyards, Norman palaces and churches and the baroque architecture of Spanish derivation. Via Atena is the long main street that the locals use for their daily stroll – a passeggiata for them. Allow yourself to join in and visit the many interesting churches and palaces that are mostly along this boulevard or nearby. Here is a quick rundown of the main sites to look out for: San Pietro’s church, San Francesco’s church, chapel of St. Anthony, San Lorenzo’s church (or Purgatory), Santa Rosalia’s church, Purgatory Hypogeum, St. Joseph’s church, Collegio dei Padri Filippini, San Domenico’s church, the Town Hall (Municipio in Italian) with the Pirandello Theatre inside, St. Mary of the Greeks church, Santo Spirito Monastery, and much, much more. But don’t stop till you reach the very top of Agrigento where you will find the main site of the city centre, the Cathedral of San Geraldo that was erected in 1301 for the first bishop of the city.