Belvedere

trully different roads

by picek

We had a drive from Eraclea Minoa pass Cattolica Eraclea towards the little town of Raffadali. We took that road because we thought we'll find a shortcut to Aragona where's Macalube site. Though we had seen before that road signs aren't always easy to understand or are placed in strange positions (or aren't placed at all) we hoped to find the way somehow. Haha! We didn't (in Raffadali we had to go back to Agrigento first and then by the main road to Aragona)- but we spent 2 or 3 quiet hrs driving through rough contryside where bare mountains dominate the landscape, where villages are rare and roads are narrow, winding and at some places unpaved. It's interesting part and while we stayed on the small road we didn't meet any car. It was that Sicily which isn't on the first pages of books. It's very diverse. There has been that feel of place very tough to inhabit. Here and there you could see scattered farms or small villages or few cows and fields and sometimes small forests. But it was mostly land of rock and grasses controlled by wind.

Temple of the Dioscuri

by MikeAtSea

The four columns of the north-west corner of the Temple of Castor and Pollux was rebuilt in 1836 with materials found on the site. On the columns and architrave there are still traces of the plaster and white stucco used as a facing material on temple structures. The cornice is decorated with relieve mouldings of an evidently Hellenic nature, which are thought to have been the resold of a restoration of the temple subsequent to its destruction in 406 BC when Akragas fell to the Carthaginians.

september rain

by picek

"Feeling Greek this time"

Temple of Castor and Pollux, the mythological twins born from the union of Leda and Zeus. This is the symbol of Agrigento, the place of great historical and architectural importance. That temple is on the edge of Valley of Temples right upon ancient stream.

We had spend a few last september days in its vicinity - but we came for too short. Only a few days here... not enough to spend some time exploring the city. Here we focused on HISTORY. And did some driving in the countryside on our seach for something extraordinary... very interesting it's that place of Agrigento province... full of contrasts.
Vulcanelli for example - site of Life - Natura protected area. Very interesting and distinctive place.

"finding golden light"

Nights do feel inviting. Here's the view from the ridge of 'Valley of Temples'.

"Water is for life ..."

By the beach, San Leone. We had one day of heavy rain and wind and after that night there were the 'wildest' waves. So clear and even the best camera cannot take the very magic of the sea in the early daylight.