Here's the morning view of Palermo from our hotel window.
As we tried to avoid yet another hair raising journey on the streets of Palermo, I thought we should shoot a video of the traffic. Depoti on camera here. And this is nothing like it was yesterday afternoon, but you'll get a feel of the fun.
Easy getting out of town and finding the highway towards Agrigento. After maybe 20 minutes of suburbs, the traffic thinned out and it was an easy hour and 10 minute drive.
See how easy it is to drive in Sicily??
Along the way we saw lots and lots of greenery. It's even more green here than in Italy. After yesterdays downpours the rivers were full and flowing fast. The sky went rapidly from mostly clouded to very, very sunny. What a welcome change it was.
Along the way Depoti spotted a castle on a hilltop (naturally) that didn't appear to be to far off the highway so we decided a day without getting kinda lost was a day without some fun. Off we go. After a mile or so we went through a few farm properties and saw a dirt road that appeared to go up to the castle. I was leery. Depoti was insistent that we could do it. Hey, this is some kind of Nissan here, not a hummer. Made it up about 50 yards, then no more. Walked up around the bend, took a few snaps then proceeded to back down half of the road.
Oh, look in the distance, it's a hill town! That's way in the distance at the base of that peak.
Upon arriving in Agrigento we ran into a traffic jam (another shock) but this one was our first accident. A motorcycle in the middle of a fork in the road and an ambulance to cart off the driver.
The main reason to come to Agrigento is the "Valley of the Temples". A set of some of the best preserved Greek Temples any where. It's quite a layout, probably over a mile or so in length and varying degrees of conditions.
The First Temple was the Temple of Juno. Very well preserved and built sometime around 450 BC. Many of the columns are still intact, as you can see. Impressive no?
Between the two main, by main I mean best preserved, temples is one of two necropolis's (sic). Burial grounds that were carved out of the rocks and contained, in some cases marble sarcophagus that were quite elaborate.
I picked this one out for myself and checked out the view.
Further down is the Temple of Concord. It was built in the same time frame, 430 BC, but in the 6th century was consecrated as a church to Saints Peter and Paul. The Interior is much better taken care of and the walls of the church still stand fairly intact.
A couple of views.
And closer in.
All total there are seven ruins that you can visit. It's a good mile plus walk from one end to the other, but the beautiful day and the splendid ruins made the hours pass by quickly.
So I know what you're gonna say when you see this shot, so get it over with and I'll explain
These giant statues, there were both male and female, stood about 35 feet tall. They were used as part of the second story facade of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. 35 feet, second story.
Here's the final temple. The Temple of Castor and Pollux that was used mostly by women for their rites. It's actually an incorrect assemblage of columns from other sites and was built in the 19th Century.
Among the writers and painters who have spent time here and been inspired by the temples are: Goethe, Guy de Maupassant, Alexander Dumas and E.M. Forester.
Quite a day and as Mr. Depoti said "We could have spent two days here and not gone to Palermo".
Nuff said!
Next time. Taormina and lava surfing on Mt. Etna.Cheers to everyone.
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