Description of the attraction
The Archaeological Museum of Agrigento, located near the Church of San Nicola, is undoubtedly one of the most interesting and visited tourist attractions in Sicily. Designed by the architect Franco Minissi, it was built in the 1960s in the heart of the ancient city - on a hill next to the church where Chantro Panitteri's villa once stood. From here, a panoramic view of the famous Valley of the Temples opens up - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum occupies both some old restored buildings (the cloister of San Nicola from the 14th century) and modern buildings. Its grand opening took place in 1967.
Inside, there are unique collections dedicated to the glorious past of Magna Graecia and the history of ancient Akragas, as Agrigento was formerly called. The exhibits are arranged in chronological order and in accordance with the place of discovery. Usually, tours of the museum begin at the Gothic portal of the Cistercian church of San Nicola, with its magnificent Romanesque façade. The first stop is at the cliff overlooking the Valley of the Temples, then at the ruins of the upper agora - an ancient Greek market square from the time of Timoleon and, finally, at the covered gallery of the Cistercian monastery, where, in fact, part of the museum exhibits is located. Here you can see clay figurines, objects of sacrifices, dishes of the 7th century BC. and classical vases, including a bowl with scenes of sacrifice, a bowl with images of Perseus and Andromeda, and the so-called "vase from Gela" (Gela was an ancient Greek port in Sicily). Particularly noteworthy are the kuros (statues of youth athletes) and the giant statue of Telamon, brought from the temple of Olympian Zeus. Some of the oldest exhibits are artifacts that belonged to the Sican people, who lived in these places as far back as the Bronze Age - around the 15th century BC. The oldest trinacria found in Sicily is also kept here, which is still considered the symbol of the island today.
