Porto Empedocle

Photo © Roberto Meli

Porto Empedocle (Zip Code 92014) is 6 Km. distant from Agrigento, the province it belongs to, 78 Km. from Caltanissetta, 198 Km. from Catania, 117 Km. from Enna, 294 Km. from Messina, 145 Km. from Palermo, 142 Km. from Ragusa, 223 Km. from Siracusa, 167 Km. from Trapani.

Photo © Roberto Meli 

The municipality counts 17.444 inhabitants, its surface measures 2.399 hectares, and its population density is of 727 inhabitants per square kilometre.

It rises on a coastal area, 2 meters above the sea-level.

The Town Hall is located in via Roma n. 10, tel. ++39 0922-636311 fax. ++39 0922-535247. E-mail address is: portoemp@tin.it

Important portal center in south-western Sicily, Porto Empedocle out stands for the cultivation of almonds, cereals, and grapes. The fishing resources are rich, especially as per sardines, anchovies, and mackerel, exhibited at the market held every Thursday, every week.

Photo © Roberto Meli 

The town's original name was Marina di Girgenti, because since the XX century it was the arrival point of all the cereal production of the area of Agrigento.

During the XVI century, king Carlo V had a tower erected for defense purposes. The construction of the first pier started in 1749, thanks to the intervention of bishop Lorenzo Gioeni, and was finished in 1763.

In 1853 the town was given a new name : "Molo di Girgenti" (pier of Girgenti), to evidence the prosperous portal activity that influenced the town's development. Subsequently, the town was called Porto Empedocle, in memory of the famous philosopher from Agrigento Empedocle.

The most outstanding monuments are the Quadrangular Tower of Carlo V, the Chiesa Madre dedicated to SS. Salvatore dated 1904, and the eighteenth century Chiesa del Buon Consiglio.