AGRIGENTO ARKEOPARK
Program
Sunday
Arrival in Sicily, transfer from the airport to the hotel.
​
Monday
Morning: A walk around the city of Agrigento.
​
A guided tour to the historical center, the cathedral and its bell tower, Santa Maria dei Greci's church built above the ruins of Athena's Temple, Via Atenea named after Atena, the greek goddes, the mazes of the arab streets, the churches, the monastery of the Santo Spirito's sisters.
​
Lunch: tasting of typical products, sisters's sweet cous cous, cannoli's, almond milk and grattarella (sicilian granita variation).
​
Afternoon: orientation labs hold by Agrigento Arkeopark: Small Topographer ArkeoLab, "Orienting through space and time".
​
On board of Temple Tour Bus (a touristic open-top bus available from April/May to end of October) we will have nice view of the city and its Valley, with a map we will see how the old Akragas was and we will spot the akropolis, the emporium, the sacred area, etc..
​
In case of raining or not being in the right period the lab will be made in a normal bus.
Tuesday
Morning: Visit to the Agrigento's Valley of the Temples (part I).
​
We will visit the temple of Demeter, the rocky sanctuary, and then in the sacred hill the Temple of Juno, Zeus's sister and wife, then the temple of Concordia, the Hercules one, semi-god and son of Zeus and Alcmene, … a journey through mitology and curiosity. We will walk along the sacred hill among olive trees, almond trees, agave plants, prickly pears and sacred trees.
​
Lunch
​
Afternoon: weaving lab host by Agrigento Arkeopark: "Penelope... weaving hisory": the greek loom.
Wednesday
Morning: Visit to Agrigento's Valley of the Temples (part II).
​
We will visit the ruins of Zeus temple, father of all gods, with its giant that, according to the legend, were the first inhabitants of the Sicily; the temple of Castor and Pollux, dedicated to the twins of Zeus and Leda; the near sanctuary of Chtonic deities, that be Persephone and Demeter; The temple of the god of fire Vulcano.
​
Visit to the Kolimbetra garden, among the various scents and searching for sacred plants, cane thickets and orange grooves from what was the Eden the pool of the ancient Akragas where the water still flow from the Feaci ducts. Visit to the hypogeum equipped with helmet and torch inside the underground tunnels the passes under the garden.
​
Lunch: picnic with typical sicilian products in the picnic area inside the Kolymbetra.
​
Afternoon: pottery lab hold by Agrigento Arkeopark: "crafting clay".
Thursday
Moring: Visit to the Agrigento's Valley of the Temples (part III).
​
We will visit the Hellenistic-Roman quarter with its splendid mosaics; the regional Archaeological museum of Agrigento; The Ekklesiasterion, the Bouleterion and the so-called Oratory of the tyrant Falaride with his famous iron bull.
​
Lunch break
​
Afetnoon: mosaic lab held by Agrigento Arkeopark: “The workshop of the Master Mosaicist”: opus tessellatum
Friday
Morning: Visit to the near town of Joppolo Giancaxio and Raffadali where Mount Guastanella has been recently identified as the last mansion of King Minos.
​
Lunch break
​
Afternoon: free time.
Sabato
The day of KALLIGENEIA (that generates life)
​
Morning: A walk around the natural beauties.
​
We will begin from the shoreline of San Leone, the Emporium of the ancient Akragas; we will pass through Porto Empedocle, Girgenti's port, till' our arrival in Realmonte for visiting the marvelous Stair of the Turks.
​
Lunch
​
Afternooon: Party with the gods, Tesmoforie in honour of Demetra e Persefone, protector of women and mother land.
​
Domenica
Greetings and transfer to the airport.
