Agrigento, Italy

City
Agrigento is a city on the southern coast of Sicily, Italy, and capital of the province of Agrigento (3). The latter is an important historical, touristic, and archeological center. It is one of the leading cities in the Mediterranean world (1).

Education
The University of the Province of Agrigento divided into six faculties and several secondary schools are located in Agrigento (4).

Culture & Tourism
Agrigento, renowned as the site of the ancient Greek city of Akragas, has been preserved in an exceptionally intact condition (1). In the city are the remains of several Doric temples, Roman ruins, Christian catacombs, and archaeological and art museums (1). Valley of the Temple, located in the city of Agrigento, is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the greatest legacies of ancient Greece (1).

Agrigento is a major tourist center due to its extraordinarily rich archaeological legacy (3). Agrigento’ attractions include the Valley of Temples, Regional Archaeological Museum, old canter, the Cathedral of St. Gerland, the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Luigi Pirandello Theatre, Church of San Nicola, Festival del Mandorlo in Fiore, and the doors of the walls (4).

Transportation
The city of Agrigento has no airport.

The Port of the City of Agrigento, port Empedocles, was one of the major shippers in Sicily (4). The port is used to export salt extracted in the mine of Realmonte, but it is also an important fishing port (4). The dredging of the seabed and its extension will soon allow the docking of cruise ships and ships of greater tonnage for commercial purposes (4).

Economy
The major economic sectors of Agrigento are agriculture, tourist, wine-making industry, and fishing (2; 5). Agrigento also mines sulfur and potash (2). Sicily Sicily’s industries include petrochemicals, building, the transformation of agricultural, and fish products (7). The chief agricultural products are wheat, barley, corn, olives, citrus fruit, almonds, carrots, almonds, hazel nuts, peppers, artichokes, wine grapes, and cotton; cattle, mules, donkeys, and sheep are raised (6). Sicily's manufactures include processed food, chemicals, refined petroleum, fertilizers, textiles, ships, leather goods, wine, forest products, potash, and sulfur (6). Sicily exports sulfur, fruits and vegetables, sumac, salt, wine, oil, and fish, and imports mainly grain, coal, and iron (8).

View Agrigento agreement

References

  1. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/831

  2. http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/world/agrigento.html

  3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrigento

  4. http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrigento

  5. http://www.sicilyontour.com/eng/economy.htm

  6. http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/world/sicily-economy.html

  7. http://passionforitaly.info/242-Commerce,__Industry_of_Sicily/Default.html

  8. http://encyclopedia.sicilian.net/

Keir Magoulas