Agrigento Off The Beaten Path

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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.

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If driving west along the south coast after a visit to Agrigento do yourself and the kids (if you have them) a favour and stop off at Eraclea Minoa. There is another archaeological site here which was unfortunately closed by the time we arrived so we ended up on this fantastic beach for a couple of hours. There is a campsite right at the edge of the beach which is an ideal retreat for a family holiday, or indeed for any beach lover. You could literally be swimming within 20 seconds of waking up! This is a difficult place to get to on foot and there's no way you'd get a tribe of kids from the main road to here without tearing your hair out on the way! This is a car only type place unless you're into walking distances. If you do decide to walk it take water with you as there is nowhere along the way. There are a couple of beach cafes when you arrive but that's it.

Great thing about Agrigento is its provinces. There are many marvelous places at the sea in the provice, some 30-35 km away. Like this place in Oasis of WWF, with fantastic sea, wonderful lansdscapes and colpete relax.

There are and closer beaches...but the ones in the province are really not to miss

Bubbling clay, shaping the landscape 15 km north of Agrigento into ever new forms. As I don't drive, I have no idea how to get here - we missed it when we were here but next time I will try to reach it. The nearest bus stop is supposedly in the town of Aragona on the way to Agrigento from Canicatti. Looking at the site below, I can't make up my mind whether a daytime or evening visit is the most spectacular. Have you been there? Send me a message :)

The road which leads to the Temple of Concord is flanked by these excavated ruins. They appear to be tombs hewn from the rock. Some of the openings are accessible and permit you to see interior niches.

Local author Pirandello was born not far from Agrigento in Contrada Caos, and you can see where for yourself, something we never had time for but which I am sure we will if we return since I grew up with theatre and Pirandello captures the spirit of Sicily in a particular way.

Caltabellotta - a wonderful hilltop town reached by a fine bus trip from Sciacca which is reached by bus from Agrigento. Have something warm off-season because its an icy blast that hits you at the top even when its warm in the town.

What can be more romantic than a sunset on the beach? Amazing palette of colours.. rocks on the beac also change their shades when the sun sets downs.