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Agrigento

From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.

Map of central Mediterranean Sea, showing location of Agrigentum (modern Agrigento).

Agrigento (formerly Girgenti) is the name of a town on the southern coast of Sicily, Italy, capital of the province of Agrigento. The town has about 55,000 inhabitants, and other important towns in the province include Licata and Naro, the latter distinctive for its well-preserved catacombs, or secret places of worship used by the earliest Christians.

Its origins are very ancient and notably Agrigento still offers the enchanting view of a presumedly sacred area built when Greeks landed there to start the civilisation of Magna Graecia.

Temple of Dioscuri

The remains include some temples, in strategic position on the peak of several hills around the town, dominating the valley (famous as the Valle dei Templi). The valley is known for the springtime event where the pervasive yet pleasant scent of orange flowers (locally called zagare).

In a poor village close to Agrigento, the Contrada Xaos (which means Chaos), was born perhaps the most famous Italian dramatist, Luigi Pirandello.

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