Agrigento

Agrigento

The Sicilian city of Agrigento is located on the southern coast of the island and is renowned as the site of the ancient Greek city of Akragras in which it had been nuilt upon around the time of 582-580 BC.

Agrigento was sacked by both the Romans as well as the Carthaginians during the third century around 262 BC for the Romans and 255 BC for the Carthaginians. During the Second Punic War both Rome as well as Carthage fought over the city and almost completely destroyed it in the process.

Agrigento is considered to be the major tourist center of Sicily due to its rich archaeological history and also serves as the agricultural center for the region. Regardless of its rich heritage and the fact that it is the major tourist destination in Sicily, Agrigento is also one of the poorest cities on the island.

The best preserved temples for one to visit are two similar buildings that were built as a tribute to the goddesses Juno Lacinia as well as Concordia and one is an amazing spectacle as it was converted into a Christian church sometime around 597 while the other had toppled due to an earthquake long in the past and the stones were quarried.

The largest temple in Agrigento is the Temple of Olympian Zeus which was built to commemorate the Battle of Himera in 480 BC and is believed to be the largest Doric temple ever built. There are also a plethora of archeological sites located at all points of the city for one sight see and explore.