Il tuo soggiorno — Penelope
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La proprietà — Penelope
Penelope is a straightforward, family-run 3-star on Via Cesare Battisti, a ten-minute walk from the Valley of the Temples. The lobby feels like a 1970s sitting room: tiled floors, potted plants, a receptionist who remembers faces. Its USP is location and price – clean, basic rooms with decent breakfast, best for budget travellers or history buffs who plan to spend most of the day outdoors.
Cronache di Agrigento
Agrigento was founded as Akragas by Greek colonists from Gela and Rhodes around 580 BCE, growing into one of the wealthiest cities of the ancient world. Its Doric temples – notably the Concordia Temple, which survived intact through conversion into a Christian basilica – remain the most impressive Greek architectural site outside Greece. The medieval hilltop town, built from tufa and limestone, took shape under Norman rule and later passed through Swabian, Aragonese and Bourbon hands. Modern Agrigento struggles with traffic and sprawling development, but its core still harbours baroque churches, narrow alleys and a gritty, lived-in authenticity far from tourist gloss.
Il momento migliore per visitare
Guida completa di Agrigento →I migliori mesi
April–May and October: spring wildflowers around the temples, clear skies, temperatures 18–25°C, much thinner crowds than July–August.
Peak / Festival Surge
July–August: domestic and international tourists flood the Valley of the Temples; hotel prices nearly double, and the heat can hit 35°C by mid-afternoon. Feast of San Calogero (mid-August) draws processions and noise in the old town.
Stagione di spalla
September and early October: sea still warm, hotel rates drop 30–40%, archaeological park is quiet by 4pm. November also cheap but more rain and shorter days.
Meteo e imballaggio
The maddening scirocco wind can blow Saharan dust and push temperatures to 40°C in a single afternoon, then drop 10°C the same evening. Pack a light long-sleeve for temple visits (sun protection and dust shield), plus a windproof jacket for sudden changes.
Briefing della città — Agrigento
- The Valley of the Temples now requires pre-booked time slots even in July – buy tickets online at least a week ahead to avoid 90-minute queues at the ticket booth.
- Agrigento's bus service from the train station to the archaeological park (line 1) runs only twice hourly in summer; bribe with cash for unscheduled stops – the driver may ignore the timetable.
- New electric scooter rentals (Bird-style) appeared on Via Atenea in June 2025 – practical for the hill climb from the modern town down to the temples, but watch for cobblestone gaps.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Penelope, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor (European: first floor above ground – which in a 3-star hotel often has fewer external-facing windows than a ground-floor room) and facing away from Via Mario Rapisardi. This reduces street noise and gives you a quieter night.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms and any room directly overlooking Via Mario Rapisardi. Ground floor can be noisy from street activity, passers-by, and possibly the entrance or lobby. Rooms on the street side will pick up traffic and scooter noise (common in Sicilian towns).
Best views
The hotel is on Via Mario Rapisardi, a main road in Agrigento’s modern centre, not the Valley of the Temples. Best view is likely an internal courtyard (if one exists) or side street – request a room with windows facing the back/building-side to reduce street view and noise.
Quietest floors
First and second floors (the 3-star standard typically has 2–3 floors) – these are above ground-level noise but below any rooftop bar or terrace if one exists (data doesn’t mention one, so safer to assume none).
🔊 Noise notes
Via Mario Rapisardi is a thoroughfare – expect traffic noise (cars, motorcycles, buses) from about 7am to late evening. Weekends may be quieter but still present. No mention of a bar or restaurant in the data, so loud music is unlikely.
Insider tips
1. If arriving by car, ask the hotel for parking advice – street parking on Via Mario Rapisardi can be tricky; they may have a discount with a nearby garage. 2. For a quieter sleep, bring earplugs regardless of floor choice, as 3-star walls are not heavily soundproofed; request a back-facing room at booking.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
strutture alberghiere — Penelope
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speed around 20 Mbps, no login required
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
No digital newsstand; daily print of Corriere della Sera at reception
Check-in from 14:00 to 22:00; early bag drop allowed from 08:00; late check-out until 12:00 costs €30
Free storage for same-day arrivals and departures in locked room near reception
Step-free entrance via ramp; lift to all floors; no adapted bathrooms or grab rails in standard rooms
No on-site parking; free public street parking nearby; paid garage at Via Ficani 300m away (€12/night); no EV charging
Tasse, imposte e depositi
City / tourist tax: €2.00 per person per night, applies to first 5 nights, exempt under 10 years old
Deposit & card hold: First night non-refundable deposit required at booking; €50 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary vicino
- Church: Chiesa di San Libertino (177 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di Santa Gemma (184 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di Santa Maria del Soccorso (233 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di San Girolamo (243 m · ~3 min walk)
Stile di vita e ricreazione locale
Villa Calogero Casesa — 675 m · ~8 min walk
Museo Diocesano — 614 m · ~8 min walk
Teatro Pirandello — 699 m · ~9 min walk
Aire de jeu — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk
5 minuti di radio essenziali
Credem — 374 m · ~5 min walk
Farmacia Romano — 67 m · ~1 min walk
Mini Market prodotti italiani e esteri Saifur Rahman — 389 m · ~5 min walk
Stazione bus piazzale Rosselli — 544 m · ~7 min walk
Moneta e moneta
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Banks and post offices give best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at airport and tourist spots as rates are poor.
Major credit/debit cards widely accepted in shops, restaurants, and hotels; contactless and Apple Pay common; cash still needed for small bars and market stalls.
Not expected; round up the bill or leave small change for good service in restaurants (5-10%). Taxis and hotel staff appreciate a euro or two for extra help.
Mangiare, fare shopping e viaggiare su un budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso at a local bar counter: about €1.00-€1.20.
Pizza al taglio or panino from a deli: around €5-€7.
Primo piatto at a trattoria: about €10-€14.
Arancini or cannoli from a pasticceria; takeaway near train station or market area.
Lidl, Eurospin, and Conad are common budget supermarkets in Agrigento.
Via Atenea has affordable high-street chains; try market stalls for cheaper basics.
Local bus day ticket (TUA) around €3.50; from Palermo airport, take the direct bus to Agrigento for about €12-€15 one way.
Eat at bars/cafes for lunch specials (menù del giorno). Buy a combo ticket for the Valley of the Temples (includes museum). Fill a water bottle at public fountains - tap water is safe and free.
Buono da sapere — Agrigento
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
Agrigento112 is the single EU emergency number for police, ambulance, or fire. In Agrigento, 118 specifically connects to medical services, 115 to fire brigade. For non-urgent police matters, dial 113. Keep these saved, but note that local cell coverage can be patchy in rural parts of the province.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Agrigento, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Penelope
🕒 Check-in is from 15:00. Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Credem — 374 m · ~5 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Romano — 67 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Girare intorno
Find train tickets →Piazzale Rosselli (city centre) → Valle dei Templi (main entrance)
💡 Bus 1 or 2 runs from the centre directly to the temples. Buy tickets at any tabacchi or newsstand – not available on board.
Agrigento Centrale Station → Agrigento Bassa (for Valley of the Temples)
💡 Only worth it for the temple valley stop; otherwise walk or use the local bus. Validate your ticket at the yellow machine before boarding.
Agrigento Bus Station → Via Cavour (near Punta Bianca)
💡 Buy tickets at newspaper kiosks in town before boarding — no onboard sales. Validate the ticket in the machine inside the bus. Walk from Via Cavour down to Via Punta Bianca; it's a flat 5-minute walk.
Falcone Borsellino Airport (Palermo) → Punta Bianca Suite & Home Experience, Agrigento
💡 Book in advance via the hotel or apps like Welcome Pickups. Confirm the rate before starting as some drivers add surcharges for luggage or late-night pickups.
Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) → Bed & Breakfast Casa Turismo Il Mandorlo
💡 Pre-book via the hotel or a local driver for fixed rates; avoid unlicensed drivers offering cheaper fares at arrivals.
Palermo Centrale → Agrigento Centrale
💡 Trains run through the Sicilian interior — less prone to coastal delays but slower. Check for cancellations on Trenitalia app. Agrigento station is a steep 20-minute uphill walk to the old town; taxis wait outside.
Palermo Bus Station (near central station) → Agrigento Bus Station (Piazzale Rosselli)
💡 Buy tickets at the station tabacchi or online — drivers don't sell them. Sit on the right side for coastal views. From the bus station, it's a 15-minute walk or €5 taxi to Punta Bianca.
Catania Airport Bus Stop (Piazzale Rossaroll) → Agrigento Bus Station (Piazzale Rosselli)
💡 Buy tickets at the airport tabacchi or online; bus drops you 1 km from the B&B – take a short taxi or walk up Via Crispi.
Domande frequenti
What are the best rooms at Penelope?
Request a room on the first floor (European: first floor above ground – which in a 3-star hotel often has fewer external-facing windows than a ground-floor room) and facing away from Via Mario Rapisardi. This reduces street noise and gives you a quieter night.
Which rooms should I avoid at Penelope?
Avoid ground-floor rooms and any room directly overlooking Via Mario Rapisardi. Ground floor can be noisy from street activity, passers-by, and possibly the entrance or lobby. Rooms on the street side will pick up traffic and scooter noise (common in Sicilian towns).
Is Penelope noisy?
Via Mario Rapisardi is a thoroughfare – expect traffic noise (cars, motorcycles, buses) from about 7am to late evening. Weekends may be quieter but still present. No mention of a bar or restaurant in the data, so loud music is unlikely.
Which rooms have the best views at Penelope?
The hotel is on Via Mario Rapisardi, a main road in Agrigento’s modern centre, not the Valley of the Temples. Best view is likely an internal courtyard (if one exists) or side street – request a room with windows facing the back/building-side to reduce street view and noise.
What are insider tips for staying at Penelope?
1. If arriving by car, ask the hotel for parking advice – street parking on Via Mario Rapisardi can be tricky; they may have a discount with a nearby garage. 2. For a quieter sleep, bring earplugs regardless of floor choice, as 3-star walls are not heavily soundproofed; request a back-facing room at booking.
What time is check-in at Penelope?
Check-in at Penelope is from 15:00. Check-out is by 11:00.
Does Penelope have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speed around 20 Mbps, no login required
Is there a city or tourist tax at Penelope?
€2.00 per person per night, applies to first 5 nights, exempt under 10 years old
Where can I eat cheaply near Penelope?
Pizza al taglio or panino from a deli: around €5-€7.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Penelope?
Local bus day ticket (TUA) around €3.50; from Palermo airport, take the direct bus to Agrigento for about €12-€15 one way.
When is the best time to visit Agrigento?
April–May and October: spring wildflowers around the temples, clear skies, temperatures 18–25°C, much thinner crowds than July–August.
Principali attrazioni a Agrigento
💡 Climb the bell tower for a small fee (about 2 euros) and get a panoramic view over the valley and the sea.
💡 Check if the small door to the bell tower is open — you can climb up for a free view. It’s often missed by tourists.
💡 Go early morning before 9am to avoid coach groups and heat. Bring sturdy shoes for the beach walk. No shade, so pack water and a hat.
💡 Part of the Valle dei Templi ticket (€10–13.50). Visit on the way out from the temples—signposted and quiet. The mosaics are well-preserved and best seen mid-morning in oblique sunlight.
💡 Go here first to understand the site layout and history. It’s quieter in the late afternoon, and your ticket often includes entry to the main temple area the same day.
💡 Entry is just €8. The first Sunday of each month is free for EU residents. Plan 1.5–2 hours. Audio guide costs €5 extra.
💡 Visit just before sunset. The golden light on the sandstone is stunning, and the free road path offers excellent views of the Temple of Hera without paying.
💡 Bring a picnic lunch — there are shady benches and fountains. The garden is often uncrowded, especially midweek.