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| coordinates_footnotes =| subdivision_type = CountryItaly}}| subdivision_type1 = Region| subdivision_name1 = Sicily| established_title =| established_date =| seat_type = Capital(s)| seat = AgrigentoComune>Comuni| parts_style = para| p1 = 43| government_footnotes =| leader_party =| leader_title = President| leader_name = Eugenio D'Orsi| unit_pref = Metric| area_footnotes =| area_total_km2 = 3042| elevation_footnotes =| elevation_m =| population_footnotes =| population_total = 454370| population_as_of = 30 June 2009| population_density_km2 = auto| demographics_type2 = GDP| demographics2_footnotes = Regions and Cities > Regional Statistics > Regional Economy > Regional Gross Domestic Product (Small regions TL3), OECD.Stats. Accessed on 16 November 2018.| demographics2_title1 = Total| demographics2_info1 = €6.558 billion (2015)| demographics2_title2 = Per capita| demographics2_info2 = €14,690 (2015)Central European Time>CET| utc_offset1 = +1Central European Summer Time>CEST| utc_offset1_DST = +2| postal_code_type = Postal code| postal_code = 92100, 92010-92029| area_code_type = Telephone prefix| area_code = 0922, 0925| iso_code =Italian car number plates>AGIstituto Nazionale di Statistica>ISTAT| blank_info_sec1 = 084weblink}}| footnotes =}}The province of Agrigento (; ) is a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily, 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). It has an area of {{convert|3041.90|km2|mi2}}, and a total population of 474,493.WEB, Some data about the Province of Agrigento,weblink Sicilia.it, 18 September 2014, There are 43 comuni ({{singular}}: comune) in the province.WEB, Provincia di Agrigento,weblink Agrigento-Sicilia, 18 September 2014,

History and location

It is surrounded by province of Palermo in the north, Trapani in the west, Mediterranean Sea in the south, and Caltanissetta in the east. Gela inhabitants 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).WEB, The province of Agrigento and it's cities,weblink Sicilybella, 18 September 2014, The ancient temples and other architectural structures were built using the stones of the hills near Capo San Marco.BOOK, Touring Club of Italy, Authentic Sicily,weblink 2005, Touring Editore, 978-88-365-3403-6, 120,

Places

Here below are listed the towns of the province with more than 10,000 inhabitants:

• Agrigento (58,273);
• Sciacca (40,068);
• Licata (36,113);
• Canicattì (35,530);
• Favara (31,751);
• Palma di Montechiaro (22,262);
• Ribera (18,492);
• Porto Empedocle (16,300);
• Raffadali (12,550);
• Menfi (12,262);
• Ravanusa (11,108).WEB, Comuni della Provincia di Agrigento per popolazione,weblink it,

Agrigento is the birthplace of the noted writer Luigi Pirandello and the philosopher Empedocles. According to the government records the number of unemployed people is about 17% of the total labour force. 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.

Wine production

The province is well known for its vineyards and wines. The total area covered by vineyards in 1984 was almost triple to that in 1949.{{sfn|Nesto|Savino|2013|p=198}} 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.{{sfn|Nesto|Savino|2013|p=170}} Around three-quarters of the Sicilian land devoted to growing Fiano grapes is in the province.{{sfn|Nesto|Savino|2013|p=95}} Some of the important municipalities known for their vineyards include Sambuca di Sicilia, Menfi, and Santa Margherita di Belice.BOOK, Touring Club of Italy, The Italian Food Guide: The Ultimate Guide to the Regional Foods of Italy,weblink 2002, Touring Editore, 978-88-365-2538-6, 567,

Transportation

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. 55% of the total rail network is suitable for electric trains.

See also

• Sulfur mining in Sicily

References

{{Wikivoyage|Agrigento (province)}}{{reflist}}

Bibliography

• BOOK, Bill, Nesto, Frances Di, Savino, The World of Sicilian Wine,weblink 2013, University of California Press, 978-0-520-95507-3,

{{Sicily}}{{Province of Agrigento|nocat=yes}}{{Authority control}}