Where to stay in Agrigento?

Accommodation in Agrigento's old town

If you want to visit and stay in Agrigento, there's nothing like the old town to capture the essence of this ancient Greek city. In fact, it's in the maze of cobbled alleyways that criss-cross the entire city that you can indulge in the pleasure of strolling on foot. Agrigento's sunny yellow stone and warmly painted houses are an unmistakable reminder of the Sicilian landscape. You'll have to love the stairs in this high-perched town, which can lose you without a map in hand. But it's all in the pleasure of meeting the locals and the architectural treasures scattered around the Sicilian city.

You'll love taking Via Atenea, the main thoroughfare through the historic center, which serves most of the city's restaurants and stores. Heading up Via Matteotti and Via Duomo, you'll discover the historic buildings that make the old città so famous. When it comes to staying in the old town, you'll be spoilt for choice, as there's a plethora of accommodation spread evenly throughout the alleyways. Whether you prefer to stay in the heart of the center, close to the Belvedere for a nice view, or near the centuries-old churches, you'll have no trouble finding where to stay.

• The Cathedral of San Gerlando: From the top of its staircase, this beautiful cathedral with its Romanesque façade welcomes you with an interior style that is both neo-classical and Baroque.
• Church of Santa Maria dei Greci: This 13th-century church stands on the ancient ruins of a Greek temple.
• The neoclassical church of Santa Maria de' Liguori : A sublime old church in the neoclassical style with three naves, typical of Sicily.
• Church of San Domenico : A beautiful church with a Baroque façade dating from the early 18th century. There's also a more modest neoclassical interior.

We've put together a selection of the best places to stay in the city center.

Staying near the Valley of the Temples

The Valley of the Temples is a must-see in Agrigento andone of the few real points of interest close to the city. Situated on a ridge to the south of the city, this area is home to no fewer than 12 Greek temples in varying states of preservation. The valley dates back to the 6th century B.C., when Greek colonists settled south of Agrigento, establishing these places of worship known as the"Divine Valley of the Gods", now a UNESCO World Heritage site. You'll be in awe of the exceptional condition of some of the buildings, such as the Concorde, which still stands on its Doric columns, and is a welcome change of scenery from Italy.

If you want to stay in Agrigento, it's best to choose accommodation close to this regional landmark to make it easier to get around (preferably by car), especially as there's also the Regional Archaeological Museum to visit. You'll find charming hotels and guesthouses where to stay all around the valley, so you can make the most of the relaxing space offered by this part of the ancient Greek city.

To help you make the most of your stay in the "Valley of the Gods", we've compiled a list of the most beautiful, must-see temples, as well as necropolises and sanctuaries:

• Hera or Juno: at the end of Crete, you'll find the remains of this building, which was burnt down by the Carthaginians. It has been rebuilt several times over the centuries.
• La Concorde: This is the best-known and best-preserved building in the valley. A peripteral structure built in Doric style, it is in an exceptional state of preservation for the ancient Greek era.
• Zeus: the remains of the temple left after the Carthaginian attack can be seen. Never completed, you can learn about its history, which once held great promise for the future.
• The Dioscuri: 4 Doric columns still stand from this ancient temple, which was destroyed by the Carthaginians and later by an earthquake.

Here's our selection of hotels and guesthouses to stay near the Valley of the Temples:

Accommodation near the south coast: Scala dei Turchi

If you're visiting Agrigento in Sicily, you've probably already seen photos of the magnificent, erosion-smoothed limestone coastline at Realmonte. If you leave the Sicilian city, you'll reach Punta Grande in 20 minutes, where you'll find the Scala dei Turchi, a major tourist attraction on the coast. You'll be amazed by the striking contrast between the turquoise water and the white limestone rock, where you can put your towel down for a few hours to soak up the Sicilian sun. The "scala" are the steps carved into the rock by erosion and used during the 16th century incursions.

As we mentioned earlier, Punta Grande is one of the tourist spots where you can find a place to stay. Indeed, right next to Scala dei Turchi, it's easy to find accommodation that will offer a lovely view of the sea and also let you enjoy a beach with fine sand, if that's more to your liking than rock. You'll also have access to many more restaurants as you head towards Porto Empedocle along the coast.

To help you make the right choice, we've selected the best guest houses and hotels to stay in this area.