Between the Sea, Montalbano, and Ancient Temples: Ciro and Annamaria Discovering Porto Empedocle and Agrigento with Sicily Car Service
The journey continues, and every day brings new wonders. After crossing Mount Etna, the Nebrodi Mountains, Palermo, and the art cities of the island's heart, today it's the turn of Sicily's southwest coast: Porto Empedocle and Agrigento.
It's still early when we meet in front of the hotel in Catania. The sky is clear, and the scent of the sea begins to fill the morning air.
“This Sicily never ceases to surprise us,” says Annamaria, adjusting her straw hat. “And today… the Temples!”
“And maybe a bit of the sea,” adds Ciro. “I've heard about an incredible white staircase...”
Our driver smiles as he opens the doors of the Mercedes: “Welcome aboard, heading for Porto Empedocle and the Valley of the Temples. A day of history, nature, and literature awaits you.”
The Road to Porto Empedocle: Among Prickly Pears and Golden Panoramas
The journey south glides by peacefully. The hills soften, the roads become scenic, and the landscapes turn golden: fields of wheat, almond trees, olive groves, and the ever-present prickly pear cactuses swaying gently.
“But look at these expanses,” comments Ciro. “It's an almost African landscape.”
“We are in the Sicily of myth,” explains the driver. “The land of the Greeks, philosophers, and gods. And also of a certain very famous commissioner…”
“Commissioner Montalbano!” the two exclaim in unison.
Porto Empedocle: Camilleri's Seaside Village
The first stop is Porto Empedocle, the birthplace of Andrea Camilleri. The port is still active, but the center retains the soul of a fishing village: narrow streets, colorful houses, clothes hanging out to dry in the sun, and bars where coffee is sipped slowly.
“Camilleri set Vigàta here,” says Annamaria, thrilled. “It feels like being inside one of his novels.”
We stroll along the main street, among murals dedicated to the writer and shops displaying books and ceramics inspired by Montalbano. An unmissable stop is the Statue of the Commissioner, in front of the municipal library. Ciro approaches, smiling:
“He’s the one who made millions of readers fall in love with this part of Sicily.”
“And we are experiencing it for real, unfiltered, through your eyes and your roads,” adds Annamaria, turning to our driver.
We also stop at the belvedere (viewpoint) overlooking the sea. The crystal-clear waters lap the golden sand, and in the distance, we can see the Scala dei Turchi (Turkish Steps), the enormous white cliff that looks like a natural monument.
“Will we go there too?” asks Ciro.
“Absolutely,” replies the driver. “It’s our gift before we immerse ourselves in antiquity.”
Scala dei Turchi: The Blinding White
The Scala dei Turchi is a breathtaking sight. The car drops us off near the parking lot, just a few steps from the path leading to the cliff. No effort, no worries about parking: this is one of the great advantages of car rental with a driver.
When we see it in all its grandeur, Ciro falls silent.
“I didn’t think a place like this existed… it looks sculpted by a Greek god.”
The cliff, made of white marl, rises like a natural staircase towards the sea. Visitors walk slowly on its smooth surface, some sit to contemplate the horizon.
“Saracen pirates used to find shelter here,” recounts the driver. “And that’s where the name ‘Scala dei Turchi’ comes from. Today it’s one of the most photographed natural wonders in the world.”
Annamaria sits down in silence. “I want to imprint this image in my memory. Forever.”
Agrigento: The City of Immortal Temples
The afternoon is dedicated to Agrigento and its extraordinary Valley of the Temples, one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. Our driver accompanies us to the entrance, avoiding the long walks under the sun.
“I’ll wait for you at the end of the route. Take all the time you need,” he says. “Here, every stone tells a piece of eternity.”
The walk in the Valley of the Temples is a journey back 2500 years. Under a clear sky and a gentle sun, the remains of what was Akragas, a Greek colony founded in 580 BC, stand before us.
The Temple of Concordia is the first to appear, perfectly preserved, a symbol of ancient Sicily. Its Doric columns still seem to support the sky.
“It’s impressive,” says Ciro. “It looks like it was built yesterday.”
We continue towards the Temple of Juno, perched on a hill overlooking the sea, and then towards the Temple of Heracles, more damaged but fascinating in its imperfection.
Annamaria reads a passage by Pindar:
“The most beautiful city of mortals.”
“And it still is,” she concludes.
The Archaeological Museum and the Kolymbethra Garden
Before returning, we visit the Regional Archaeological Museum, where artifacts from the area are kept, including statues, ceramics, and a gigantic Telamon: a male statue that supported the Temple of Zeus.
Finally, we descend into the Kolymbethra Garden, an oasis of citrus trees, almond trees, and prickly pears, where the ancient and the green coexist. The scents are intense, the atmosphere is suspended.
“Here you feel part of history,” says Annamaria. “And with you, we were able to experience it without fatigue, without rushing.”
Return at Sunset
We return to our car, which awaits us cool and silent. On the way back, the sun sets behind the inland hills, coloring everything in pink and amber.
Ciro and Annamaria fall asleep for a few minutes, lulled by the car's movement and the sense of fulfillment of a perfect day.
When they wake up, already close to the hotel, Ciro says:
“Every trip should be like this. Without stress, with someone who truly takes you to live, not just to see.”
“Sicily Car Service is our ideal companion,” adds Annamaria. “You have made every stop a true experience.”
Discover the Sicily that excites you too. Without haste. Without stress. Only beauty.
With Sicily Car Service, every journey becomes a discovery, every destination an unforgettable memory.
From the coast to the temples, from literature to millennia of history, we accompany you wherever your heart leads you.
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