Our second day in Agrigento was a complete washout.  A storm had come in from the sea and, in all honesty, we had never seen such rain and lightning.  We managed to run out for a brief walk between downpours, but we basically spent the day relaxing in the apartment.  Later, not long after we…

It was difficult to focus on the old radios that were on display at the Chiesa di San Lorenzo, when we were surrounded by such lovely paintings and stucco work.  Even though it is now deconsecrated, the church is still a place that is well worth visiting in Agrigento. The Palazzo della Camera di Commercio,…

On Piazza San Francesco d’Assisi, you will find the Basilica della Beata Maria Vergine Immacolata, which dates from before 1295.  This is one of the largest churches in the city, and is definitely worth a visit.  Badly damaged by bombings in World War II, the church has since been renovated, and has now been restored…

The charm of Agrigento’s old town becomes more and more apparent, the higher up its narrow streets you climb. Walking through the streets of the Centro Storico, the historical center of Agrigento, was like walking through an open air art museum.  It was a wonderful experience!  The best part of it was that we were…

Those arriving by bus to the city of Agrigento will disembark at Piazza Fratelli Rosselli, the site of the main bus station. A plaque, on a now deconsecrated and deserted church, commemorates the fact that Pope John Paul II celebrated three masses there. La Porta dei Venti, or the Gate of the Winds, is today…

The Monument to Empedocles stands in a small piazza, Piazza Vadalà, at the entrance of the historical center of Agrigento, between the library and the police station.  The monument depicts the philosopher with representations of the different elements of his studies, and is the work of the artist, Nino Contino. The Caserma “Biagio Pistone,” at…

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…

Having made our way back down to the center of the city, we continued walking around.  The Hotel Patria, pictured above, is housed in a building that dates from the 15th century.  Up until World War II, this was one of the most renowned hotels in the city.  The building later became the property of…

We continued to explore the space under the Chiesa dei Cocchieri. Directly across the street from the Chiesa dei Cocchieri, you will find the Giardino dei Giusti.  The garden stands on the site where the palazzo of the noblewoman, Francesca Fulci, once stood.  The palazzo was completely destroyed by bombings in 1943, and in the…

Our next destination was the Catacombe dei Cappuccini, or the Capuchin Catacombs, but it did not open until 3:00pm, after the lunch break.  So, we continued to explore the surrounding area.  As we made our way through the streets, we came upon a shop that made traditional Sicilian puppets! The Palazzo Dagnino is also known…

We awoke to another beautiful day in Palermo.  Not wanting to waste a second of it, after a quick breakfast, we headed back out into the streets. Walking up Via Vittorio Emanuele, we passed a large palazzo that houses the Archivio Storico Diocesano di Palermo, or the Diocesan Historical Archive of Palermo. The Porta Nuova…

We took our time exploring the Oratorio del Santissimo Rosario in Santa Cita.  We were the only two people in the place, and so, we were able to spend as much time as we wanted, taking in the ornate stucco decorations. At the far end of the oratory, there is another room, a sort of…