Agrigento Local Customs

San Gerlando is a patron of the city, nevertheless, the most popular and celebrated fiest in Agrigento belongs to San Calogero, which is very respected here by religious people. Religiousity is quite strong in SIcily, but in these days more among older people rather than young ones.
This celebration is really something to see. It's happening on the first and second Sunday of July. The procession starts at S.Calogero church. There are many ancient rituals. Older people told me that once it used to be the main celebration of all the town, when everybody used to dress up, to socialize, with horses dressed in colorful clothes (these are still present, but not as many as years and years ago), with offerings and wishes for healing.

this religious celebration has deep roots in Agrigento,.it used to be very wide-spread among agriculture workers and middle class "simple people". Apart procession of carrying saint, exchanging wishes and offerings, horses, there were present also drums. If you are around Agrigento in this period don't miss the celebration.
In sicily every city has a fiest of some saint like this, afterall, it's the land were religious processions remained most archaic, even thought, they are already changing.

In the evening of these two Sundays, in the center of the city (higher up) you can enjoy fantastic and long fireworks!

In February every year, as the trees bloom white, the almond is celebrated with a procession and lots of fun. I wish I could take time off one year and get to see this, as Sicilian almond products belong to the yummiest things in the world to me! :-)

When you feel that southern Sicily is too hot for you, almost as close to Africa as it is to mainland Italy, then catch bus 2 (same as the temple valley so you can combine them) to San Leone and either visit the "lido" or just one of the bars along the seafront. There is also a huge playground for children down there.

Talking about San Leone, I also have to mention the by Sicilian standards very large coastguard office with helicopter pad here. The southern coast is of course a popular landing place for immigrants from Africa. Again, you see that this is the island where Europe ends...