The Best Hotels to Book in Agrigento, Italy

On a promontory of palms jutting into the Med is this ochre-walled villa. It’s just a five-minute drive from the Valley of the Temples, where the columned Hellenic structures leave visitors speechless. After a morning wandering the ruins, retreat to Casa Realia’s shady gardens: egg-shaped chairs dangle among olive trees and oversized terracotta urns, there’s a cool slab of a communal pool at this Agrigento hotel, and six elegant rooms blend marble fireplaces with hip deco furniture. The friendly owners, residing in one wing, are on hand to dispense local knowledge, as you fuel up on Sicilian pastries, fresh figs and cheeses for breakfast.

You should book in here for the knockout views alone – especially at night, when the Valley of the Temples is illuminated graphically against an inky sky. By day, the archaeological wonder is 15 minutes away on foot: tick off the sights, then head back to this Agrigento hotel’s scented gardens to rest with an aperitif among lemon, almond and fig trees. Rooms are simple but spacious, in soothing neutral hues, with ornate 19th-century Sicilian furniture and jewel-toned persian rugs adding a touch of flair.

This cool white-and-glass hilltop hideout gazes towards the imposing Temple of Juno, with its mighty Doric columns. Contemplate the view as you bob in the pool; better still, upgrade to a deluxe room – each has a private plunge pool. The 22 rooms at this hotel in Agrigento are essays in pared-down chic, with clean, modern lines and photographic prints on walls. There’s a small spa for post-valley pampering and a superb restaurant with a focus on organic, home-grown ingredients. If you’re a culinary keenie, book a session on Mediterranean flavours with stellar chef Max Ballarò.

You might not expect a working olive farm to be moonlighting as an international class hotel, but Mandranova does just that – and brilliantly. In a landscape of silver-green olive groves and puttering tractors, the deal is: 16 classy rooms of sharp Starck furniture and florid majolica floor tiles. Allow lots of time for the deep, spring-fed pool and the excellent home-cooked meals delivered by your hosts, Silvia and Giuseppe. (Top tip: go for the half-board option.) The temples in Agrigento are a 30-minute drive away. Closer to home, you’ll find a string of quiet, unspoiled beaches.

Handy for the temples and the beach, this designer-look B&B near Agrigento punches well above its tariffs. It hides down a peaceful street in the seaside town of San Leone, with a clutch of great restaurants in easy walking distance – try Doctor Fish for just-caught seafood. Rooms are comfort zones of muted shades, mood lighting and rainfall showers. Breakfast is a mountain of Sicilian pastries, served on a breeze-cooled terrace. After that, you’ll need the tennis court.

Here’s a savvy pick for families: an immaculate aparthotel, occupying part of the beautifully restored central train station in the heart of Agrigento. Mediterranean clarity prevails in bright, white modern rooms, jazzed up with splashes of azure and tomato-red, that come fitted with smart kitchens. When booking, request a room with a sea view. The Valley of the Temples is a five-minute drive away, and the hotel has free private parking – a godsend in busy Agrigento.

Somewhere in the tangled lanes of Agrigento Old Town, you’ll stumble upon this good-looking bijou bolthole: it’s a stylish triumph of exposed-brick walls, bold abstract art, retro-look furniture and snazzy tilework. Should parking prove a challenge, owners Sandro and Fabio are happy to give you a steer. Step out, and you’re immediately immersed in the bustling bar-and-restaurant scene, while the temples are easily reached by hire car or taxi. Breakfast is a highlight, with eggs from the resident chickens and rocket-fuel coffee to set you up for a day of sightseeing.