Province of Agrigento

The province of Agrigento (Italian: provincia di Agrigento; Sicilian: pruvincia di Girgenti) was a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy, situated on its south-western coast. Following the suppression of the Sicilian provinces, it was replaced in 2015 by the Free Municipal Consortium of Agrigento (Italian: libero consorzio comunale di Agrigento). As of 2026, the area has a population of 407,041 in an area of 3,052.59 square kilometres (1,178.61 mi2) across its 43 municipalities. History Greek colonists from Gela founded the province in the 6th century BC as Akragas. Carthage destroyed the province in 406 BC, but it was later ruled by the Romans, Goths, Byzantines, and Arabs. The Arabs rebuilt several parts of the province. Several ancient Doric temples were constructed during the 6th and 5th century BC to worship Hercules, Jupiter, Juno, Castor, Pollux, and Demeter. They are located in the Valley of Temples (Italian: Valle dei Templi). The ancient temples and other architectural structures were built using the stones of the hills near Capo San Marco. Geography It is surrounded by province of Palermo in the north, Trapani in the west, Mediterranean Sea in the south, and Caltanissetta in the east. The province faces the Channel of Sicily in the south and is known for its beaches. Torre Salsa's beaches have been designated natural reserves and are protected due to their environmental importance. Municipalities There are 43 municipalities (comuni) in the province. Demographics As of 2026, the population is 407,041, of which 49% are male, and 51% are female. Minors make up 15.1% of the population, and seniors make up 25%. Immigration As of 2025, of the known countries of birth of 403,204 residents, the most numerous are: Italy (376,362 – 93.3%), Germany (7,812 – 1.9%), Romania (5,620 – 1.4%). Government List of presidents Economy The economy is primarily based on agriculture and tourism. Port traffic is also moderate, centered on Porto Empedocle, which was once a thriving hub for the sale of sulfur from the Pasquasia mine in Enna and smaller deposits. Today, drought and the inequity of the water supply system make water crises frequent. According to the government records the number of unemployed people is about 17% of the total labour force. Wine production Viticulture produces fine wines, including Inzolia and Marsala, and sparkling wines, all distinctive and driving forces for a rather depressed economy. The total area covered by vineyards in 1984 was almost triple to that in 1949. During this period Marsala based wine merchants used the grapes produced in the province to produce Marsala wine. In 1984 the local government passed a law that regulated this practice. Around three-quarters of the Sicilian land devoted to growing Fiano grapes is in the province. Some of the important municipalities known for their vineyards include Sambuca di Sicilia, Menfi, and Santa Margherita di Belice. Transport Roads The Agrigento area is not served by any highways, having only a few expressways. However, the SS 640 is currently being upgraded to a modern highway from Agrigento to the A19 motorway, passing through Caltanissetta. The road network in the province comprises 540 km. of street roads, 1,000 km. of provincial roads, 260 km. of communal roads and 56 km. of regional roads. Railways The Agrigento area is crossed by three railway lines open to passenger traffic, all operated by RFI, for a total of approximately 150 km: the Palermo-Agrigento line, the Caltanissetta Xirbi-Agrigento line—which meet at the Aragona station—and the Syracuse-Canicattì line. All three lines have single-track electrification, except the Syracuse-Canicattì line, which is not electrified. See also Sicilians Sulfur mining in Sicily Railway network of Sicily References Bibliography Nesto, Bill; Savino, Frances Di (2013). The World of Sicilian Wine. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-95507-3.