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…

After our delicious lunch, all of it grilled by the gentleman pictured standing by the smoking grill above, we continued on our way. On the same piazza, Al Tentacolo was another inexpensive place to grab some food and drinks, but they only served fish and seafood.  We would eat there the following day. Our next…

The Cassa di Risparmio can be found along one side of Piazza del Monte di Pietà, and dates from 1861. The restaurant Zaytuna, on Via Judica, specializes in Tunisian food. A little further down the street, we passed another restaurant where I had eaten before, during my last trip to Palermo.  It was wonderful at…

Beginning in 1714, the illustrious dead of the area were buried in the crypt of the Chiesa di San Matteo.  The bodies were placed in the marble niches, with marble “pillows” on which their heads rested.  In 1787, the remains were moved into common ossuaries inside the church. The Palazzo Rudinì dates from approximately 1760,…

The Palazzo del Duca di Castrofilippo can be found on the Ruga de Alemannis.  This street is literally lined with sumptuous palaces, which were built by some of the area’s most notable families.  Today, the buildings serve many different purposes.  The Palazzo del Duca di Castrofilippo has now been divided up into residential apartments. The…