Agrigento was founded by colonists from Gela around 580 BC, located on the hill of Girgenti. It had various names: Akragas for the Greeks, Agrigentum by the Romans, Kerkent for the Arabs, Girgenti by the Normans. The latter was the official name of the city until 1929.

The Agrigento's historic center dates back to the Middle Ages of the ninth and fifteenth centuries, is characterized by the typical conformation Arab, with its narrow streets and courtyards who meet the Via Atenea, which today is the most important artery of the city. It still has many medieval buildings: churches, monasteries, convents and palaces. Within some of the churches you can see many works of Serpotta and Gaginis.

CATHEDRAL AGRIGENTO

The early work on the construction of the Cathedral of Agrigento began before the year 1100 by the will of the Bishop Gerland. But only 200 years later, during the bishopric of Bertoldo De Labro, the church was built dedicated to St. Gerland, patron of the city of Temples.

Over the years and centuries, other buildings were added and other improvements were made to the original inside. This resulted in a considerable variety of styles that can still be seen inside the Cathedral. They range from the Norman and Gothic-Chiaramonte, from the Renaissance to the Baroque. Inside you can admire the frescoes and sculptures of great artistic value.

VALLE DEI TEMPLI

The Valley of the Temples is an archaeological site located near Agrigento. Since 1997, the entire archaeological zone has been included in the list of world heritage sites, prepared by UNESCO.

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