Corridors of time

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Valle dei Templi in Agrigento is a spectacular testimony to ancient Greek colonisation spread across 1,300 hectares of pure wonder. Take a walk among 30-metre tall columns and massive tympana and let your jaw drop in awe at the sight of the beautifully preserved temple of Concordia, or lose yourself in a distant past as you walk the golden expanse of the Olympeion field. Descend into the catacombs of Grotte di Frangipane and let your imagination run free as you sit on the stone steps of the Bouleuterion – the ancient Greek senate house.

Once a thriving Greek colony, Selinunte is now the largest archaeological park in Europe, developing across an area of 270 hectares. Its temples soar high against the bright blue of the Sicilian sky, telling a story that spans 2,500 years. The vast area can be negotiated either on foot or by electric car, and there is also a special train that covers a dedicated route inside the park.

This urban regeneration project situated a few kilometres east of Agrigento is the product of a family’s love for their homeland, and their determination to help it rise from the rubble – both literal and metaphoric – of a tragedy that shook the local community to the core. The Farm Cultural Park is an art gallery, culture centre, artists’ residence and culinary showcase rolled into one eclectic space within the town’s historical centre. As their motto goes: “A place that makes you happy”. 

The family home of Italian Nobel-winning playwright Luigi Pirandello is situated near Porto Empedocle. Declared national heritage, the 18th century villa now hosts a museum dedicated to the world-famous dramatist, where a vast collection of memorabilia is on display, including everything from family heirlooms to materials relating to his works. A multimedia tour of the house guides visitors room by room through the history of Pirandello’s life and work. The final stretch of the journey leads along a scenic footpath to a pine tree in the countryside, where Pirandello’s ashes were placed to rest.