Our next destination was only 6 kilometers away, so we opted for the easy option, and took a taxi.  In less than fifteen minutes, we were in front of what would be our new home for the next three days.  We rented an apartment in a residential area, right across from the beach, halfway between the actual city of Porto Empedocle,  and the famous Scala dei Turchi.

The area where the apartment was located gets very busy and crowded with tourists, during the peak summer season, being right on the beach, and within walking distance to the Scala dei Turchi.  That said, it did not have a very touristy feel.  There were a few restaurants and bars nearby, but that was about it.  At the end of the large parking area, in front of the apartment, there was a hotel.  Other than that, for shops and other forms of entertainment, one either had to go into the city of Porto Empedocle, which was a twenty-to-thirty-minute walk along a busy road with no sidewalks, or, if you had a car, you could simply drive to Agrigento.  Still, we were looking forward to a bit of quiet.  The owner of the apartment offered to drive us into the city of Porto Empedocle, so that we could pick up some groceries.  He had to take his daughter to basketball practice, and so we could walk around the town, and do our shopping, while she was at practice.  Then, when she was finished,  he would drive us back to the apartment.  We agreed to meet him later that evening, and set out to explore!

Our apartment was the entire first floor (or, in the USA, the second floor) of the pink building, pictured below.

Before long, it was time to meet our landlord, and head into town to do our shopping.  He dropped us off in front of the supermarket, told us when he would be back, and with a little time to kill, we thought we could walk around the town for a while.  Porto Empedocle was founded as the port area of the ancient city of Agrigento.  Today, it is its own city.

A plaque, on the facade of the local school, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Unification of Italy.

In the middle of a small piazza, you will find the Monument to Those Who Lost Their Lives in the First World War.

At Via Roma, #127, you will find the Chiesa di Maria Santissima del Buon Consiglio, which dates from 1904.

Porto Empedocle is the setting for many of the popular Inspector Montalbano novels.  In fact, one might even catch a glimpse of the famous inspector, while exploring the town.  We discovered him leaning against a lamp post.  Oh, wait!  It was only a life-sized bronze statue of the inspector.  The statue is the work of the artist, Giuseppe Agnello, paying tribute to the literary character.

Nearby, you will find the bronze monument to Luigi Pirandello, who was born just outside of Porto Empedocle, in the neighborhood known as Caos Villaseta.

 

Next up: We explore more of the area surrounding our apartment, on our second day in Porto Empedocle!

 

<em>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 more posts from other Italian destinations.  Grazie!</em>