Agrigento, Sicily pt. 1

Agrigento was a last-minute addition to our Sicilian itinerary, recommended by a friend of my sister’s who lives near the area. Nestled on a hilltop along the southwestern coast of Sicily, Agrigento was founded by the Greeks in 583 BC, and you can definitely see the Greek influence throughout the region. The drive from Palermo to Agrigento was about two hours, and we made sure to stop at some beautiful sights along the way.

In the commune of Santo Stefano Quisquina is the Teatro di Andromeda, an open-air theatre built by hand by artist Lorenzo Reina the 1970s. This place was so interesting - unique sculptures and works of art are hidden throughout the landscape, surprising you at every turn. The amphitheatre, however, was absolutely breathtaking. Said to represent the collision of our galaxy with the Andromeda Galaxy, its 108 stone seats correspond to stars in the Andromeda Nebula. With the sweeping valley stretching out beyond the stage, it was an extraordinary sight to witness, evoking pure wonder.

Our final stop on the way to Agrigento was the Scala dei Turchi, or the “Stair of the Turks,” a striking natural formation of white rock overlooking the turqoise Mediterranean Sea. Its name is said to come from the Turkish and Saracen pirates who once used the sheltered coastline as a landing place. Unfortunately, access to the cliff itself had been restricted, but the view from the surrounding landscape was more than enough to appreciate the incredible beauty of this unique stretch of coastline. We are so happy we made the detour!

Cefalu', Sicily

We took a day trip to Cefalù, a town about an hour’s drive outside of Palermo on the Tyrrhenian coast. Unfortunately, it was a cold and overcast day, so the “most beautiful village in Italy” left a little to be desired. Despite the weather, it was fascinating to learn about the history of this ancient town, which, like much of this area of Sicily, has a strong Norman influence.

In addition to Cefalù, our tour guide surprised us with a visit to Castelbuono, a small medieval commune nestled high in the mountains. We also visited the town of Monreale, home to the spectacular Monreale Cathedral. Considered a national monument in Italy, the cathedral’s interior was absolutely breathtaking, with intricate mosaics depicting biblical stories, including the story of Adam and Eve.

The best part of the tour was visiting the promontory overlooking Palermo and the surrounding sea. By now, the sky had cleared, and the city and coastline views were absolutely incredible.