A train ride, of a little over two hours, took us to the history filled city of Agrigento. We had rented an apartment for the duration of our stay, and the owner of the place was kind enough to meet us at the train station, and from there, drove us to the apartment, which was located at the edge of the city, off the road that leads down to the famous Valle dei Templi, or the Valley of the Temples.
As usual with us, after settling in, we headed outside, so that we could become a bit more familiar with our new neighborhood.
As we headed to find the nearest supermarket to stock up on breakfast items, we passed the Chiesa Parrocchiale della BMV Madonna delle Grazie, which is at Via Demetra, #2.
Because our apartment was located on the hill leading down to the Valley of the Temples, getting to the main historical center of town required climbing quite a few stairs. However, we did not mind it. It was a good way to burn off calories from the night before.
Once you got to the top of the stairs, you simply turned to the left, and continued walking along the street that rose up to the Centro Storico, or the Old Town.
From the road we were walking along, we noticed a set of stairs that looked as if it led to a park area, and so, up we went.
The park area was called Villa Bonfiglio, and it was a lovely place, with a play area for children, a few monuments, and lots of greenery. A section of the park, as well as the road leading into the city proper, was closed, because of damage from a storm that had passed through the area the day before, causing trees to fall, and a partial collapse of a building. So, we explored what we could, and then, since we had no other way to exit the place, descended the stairs we had come up from, back to the street leading into the town.
The Villa Bonfiglio is the home of the Monumento ai Caduti della Grande Guerra, or the Monument to the Fallen of the Great War. It is set in the middle of a fountain, known as the Fountain of the Fallen, and consists of a marble obelisk that is topped by a bronze angel, depicting the victory of the country. The names of the citizens, who lost their lives in the war, are engraved on the four sides of the base of the obelisk.
Next up: We continue our walk, heading into the Old Town of Agrigento!
Note: This blog is written in English and Spanish, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any other translations that may appear. If you have enjoyed this post, please, check out our archives for posts from other exciting Italian destinations. Grazie!