Car hire Agrigento

Introduction

Agrigento is the capital of the province of the same name on the Italian island of Sicily. It's an ancient city, founded by the Greek in 581 BC. In 406 BC Agrigento was attacked by the Carthaginians who caused havoc. In the Valle dei Templi, some temples have been preserved which form the city's largest tourist attraction.

Population

The city has over 60,000 inhabitants.

Location

Agrigento is located on Sicily's south coast, over 70 kilometers southwest of Caltanissetta and almost 200 kilometers west of Catania.

Economy

Because of the archeological places of interest, Agrigento is an important tourist center on Sicily. It's also a center for agricultural produce from the surrounding area: citrus fruit, olives, almonds and (wine) grapes. Still, Agrigento is a poor city, one of the poorest in Italy with a high percentage of unemployment.

Airports

Aeroporto di Catania-Fontanarossa (or Catania International Airport) is the easiest airport on Sicily to reach Agrigento. From the airport you first follow in your rental car the freeway to Palermo, then turn southwest at Caltanissetta and drive to Agrigento via the SS-640.

For years there have been plans to build an airport closer to Agrigento, but there's a lot of resistance from conservationists and Catania Airport which fears losing customers.

Public Transport

The central bus station is located near the train station. Buses run to the Archeological Museum and further downhill to the entrance of the Valle dei Templi. There are also ferry connections from the nearby Porto Empedocle to the islands of Lampedusa and Linosa.

Traffic and Parking

The narrow medieval streets in Agrigento's center are unsuitable to explore by rental car. It's better to park your car at a guarded parking lot around the center. Never leave your rental car unattended! Also bear in mind that the roads inland can be narrow and winding and sometimes unpaved.

Hotels

There's a reasonable choice of accommodations in Agrigento ranging from basic guesthouses to luxurious hotels. The latter can be found in the city's historical center and near the Valle dei Templi.

External Sources

For more information about Agrigento, we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Agrigento
• Official website Agrigento
• Tourist Information Agrigento