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Agrigento is the name of a
town on the southern coast of Sicily, Italy, capital of the
province of Agrigento. The town has about 55,000 inhabitants,
and other important towns in the province include Licata and
Naro, the latter distinctive for its well-preserved
catacombs, or secret places of worship used by the earliest
Christians.
Its origins are very ancient and notably Agrigento still
offers the enchanting view of a presumably sacred area built
when Greeks landed there to start the civilisation of Magna
Graecia.
The remains include some
temples, in strategic position on the peak of several hills
around the town, dominating the valley (famous as the Valle
dei Templi). The valley is known for the springtime event
when the pervasive yet pleasant scent of orange flowers (locally
called zagare) appears.
In a poor village close to Agrigento, the Contrada Xaos (which
means Chaos), was born perhaps the most famous Italian
dramatist, Luigi Pirandello. |
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