Guide of Porto Empedocle

Porto Empedocle, once called Marina di Girgenti is a cradle of history and culture and is in the south of Sicily. The sea is very important to this port town and has very much shaped the lives of the locals as fishing and tourism are the main economic activities here. It is one of the most beautiful coastlines in Italy with a magnificent and wild landscape. Its small ancient village was the birthplace of the famous Italian writers, Luigi Pirandello and Andrea Camilleri.

Places to visit

During your stay in the town of Porto Empedocle, you should definitely visit the ancient port which overlooks the whole town. It is a historically important port and under the Arab rule it was a fundamental centre of commerce and the surrounding countryside was very rich in sulfur, chalk and rock salt. The original watchtower still stands in the port and is known as Charles V, it is in the shape of a truncated pyramid and with a panoramic terrace. The historic centre is built on crossroads formed by Via Roma, Via Crispi and Via Lincoln, which are very important roads that together with the port form the focal point of Porto Empedocle.

Among the most beautiful religious buildings are the ancient Mother Church and the Church of San Gerlando, which has now been transformed into an auditorium. In Realmonte, next to the Scala dei Turchi you can also visit the remains of a Roman villa from the first century. 

Beaches

To the east of Porto Empedocle, lies Caos beach at the foot of the blue clay plateau on the African sea. To the west of the town, there are some lovely stretches of golden sand about three kilometres long, with beaches such as Marinella and Lido Azzurro, which are equipped and frequented for bathing have lots of amenities. A place not to miss is Cala dei Turchi, which has shimmering white cliffs of limestone that seem to form staircases that rise from the sea. Porto Empedocle is really unique and one of the most beautiful places in Sicily.