Agrigento Archaeological Museum
A half day tour
The regional archaeological museum "Pietro Griffo" of San Nicola is certainly one of the most important and most visited museums of Sicily. Designed by Franco Minissi, it was built in the'60s on the hillock of San Nicola where the villa of Ciantro Panitteri once stood, in the heart of the ancient city. The building blends old restored buildings (Cloister of St. Nicholas) and modern structures
The museum offers a fine introduction to the spendours of ancient Akragas and gives an insight into the life of the Greek settlers. Our guided tour of the Archaeological Museum begins outside in front of the gothic portal of the Cistercian Church of St. Nicholas with its magnificent Romanesque facade. We stop to admire the view of the Temples , the remains of the upper agora with the ekklesiasterion (assembly meeting place) from the time of Timoleon and the cloister of a Cistercian monastery. We continue inside and visit the main rooms displaying figurines, ex- votoes, local pottery (Dinos with triskeles from 7 century BC) and Attic vases (among them, the crater with scene of sacrifice, the one with Perseus and Andromeda and the "vase of Gela." . Particularly noteworthy are the kouros from the severe period known as the Ephebe of Agrigento and the Telamon giant statue from the Temple of Olympian Zeus
Tour type: private tour with an English speaking licensed guide. Transportation from hotel/ accommodation can be provided on demand and can be paid directly to the bus company.
Time duration: 2 hours
Price: the guiding fee is Euro 120
Departure time: on demand
Meeting place: Church of San Nicola
This tour can be combined with the Valley of the Temples tour