Are you planning a trip to Sicily? Do you want to know what to see in Agrigento and Corleone? Are you not sure if you should include these places in your itinerary? You should continue reading this post.
In this post, I will tell you what we did on our day visiting Corleone and Agrigento, with a quick look at “Scala del Turchi” (Stair of the Turks).
We were on Day 8 of our 16-day trip around Sicily. So far, we have visited Catania, Taormina, Cefalu and Palermo. We continued in the direction of the South coast of the Island, and our first stop was Corleone.
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We checked out of Heritage Collection B&B after breakfast and went to collect our car at Garage San Matteo on Via Vittorio Emanuele. After a few minutes, we had our car handed over and headed in the direction of Corleone.
Corleone is about 1 hour from Palermo in normal traffic. We didn’t get too much traffic and arrived in Corleone at about 10:30 in the morning.
Below is a map showing the places we visited on that day:
We were travelling independently around the island with a hired car we booked with Discover Cars, as we are confident travellers and speak a bit of the language. However, if you prefer to be part of a tour and to have everything organised for you, I advise you to book a complete tour of the island with Tourradar.
They have different kinds of tours that will fit your time and budget. If you book it via my link you can get a discount by using this code: RoseG50.
I will tell all about our day, but first, let me tell you a little bit about Corleone:
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CORLEONE
Nestled in the heart of the Sicilian countryside, the name Corleone evokes powerful imagery, largely thanks to Mario Puzo’s novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic film series.
However, the real Corleone is not a Hollywood set, but a resilient town with a rich history, stunning natural beauty, and a strong anti-mafia movement, offering a truly authentic Sicilian experience.
Forget the movie myths (the film locations were actually in other villages, such as Savoca and Forza d’Agrò, the true essence of Corleone lies in its genuine local life and powerful message of change.
Corleone has roots that trace back to ancient times, shaped by Greeks, Arabs, Normans, and Spaniards. Walking through its streets feels like strolling through living history, with stone arches, medieval architecture, and historic piazzas whispering stories of the past.
Corleone isn’t just beautiful, it’s strong. Once known for darker chapters, today it stands as a symbol of renewal and justice. It’s real Sicily, where history, culture, and community come together. It’s where mountain paths lead to secret waterfalls, where locals greet you with sincere smiles, and where tradition is alive in every stone and every meal.
Whether you’re exploring its historic centre, enjoying the countryside, or simply sitting in a piazza tasting gelato, Corleone invites you to slow down, soak in its charm, and feel the heartbeat of Sicily.
VISITING CORLEONE
Unfortunately, we didn’t have all day to enjoy the countryside or even to sit and enjoy a gelato. When we arrived, we parked the car in a street close to “The Godfather’s House Museum” and joined a tour in the museum that was just starting.
The museum is in a 1800s noble residence and is furnished and decorated as it was in the 1800s, being faithful to the era. It tells the history of Corleone, its people and the life of the noble landowners of the time. It also tells the history of the mafia and the anti-mafia movement.
The tour takes you back to the historical, political and social motivations that led this town to be called the world capital of the mafia until today. The visit was a unique experience worth having.
After the visit, we wanted to go to the other museum, CIDMA (International Documentation Centre on the Mafia); however, for some reason, the museum was closed on that day, and when we arrived at the doors, we found it closed.
Above various photos of “The Godfather’s House Museum”
The visit to CIDMA is very well reviewed and advisable if you have the time. We just walked around the streets of Corleone to have a look around, but soon decided to go back to the car and continue with our trip to Agrigento.
There is a guided tour of the C.I.D.M.A. Museum in English where they will tell you the story of the fight against the Mafia. Book via the link.
It is possible to visit Corleone with a excursion in half a day from Palermo. There is a nice excursion that takes you to Corleone and another town called Ficuzza to see the “Gorges of the Dragon” and the Due Rocche Waterfalls. Book this one HERE.
The trip to Agrigento is about 1:45 minutes, but we decided to stop at “Scala dei Turchi” before continuing to Agrigento, which took us another 15 minutes.
SCALA DEI TURCHI
“Stair of the Turks” is one of Sicily’s most visually stunning natural wonders, a breathtaking white marlstone cliff face which cascades dramatically into the turquoise Mediterranean Sea.
Its unique name, which translates to “Stair of the Turks,” is derived from local lore that suggested Turkish (specifically, Saracen) pirates anchored their ships in the sheltered coves and climbed the step-like rock formation to raid nearby villages
The cliff is renowned for its striking, brilliant white colour, formed over centuries by the slow erosion of soft limestone and clay. This smooth, undulating rock creates a natural amphitheatre, contrasting sharply with the deep blue of the sea and the golden sandy beaches that flank its sides.
When I heard about “Scala dei Turchi”, and I knew we were visiting Agrigento, I made sure I would include it on our itinerary.
The cliff is nestled between two sandy beaches with calm waters, a perfect spot for sunbathing, swimming, or a relaxed seaside afternoon. Visitors often stroll along the shore, walk to the base of the white steps, and enjoy incredible panoramic views.
When we arrived, we parked at the top of the main road in a private car park. If you are lucky enough to find a parking space on the road, you can park for free. There is a viewpoint called “Belvedere Scala dei Turchi” where you have stunning views of the cliff.
We walked straight to the viewpoint and took various photos. Afterwards, we walked further down the road, where we found steps leading down to the beach. There were lots of steps, and halfway down, there was a restaurant/bar where we stopped for some food and drinks.
We decided not to go down to the beach. There were many more steps to get to the beach, and everything that goes down will need to come back up later.
It was quite a hot day, so we preferred to relax in the shade of the bar, enjoying a drink, looking at the beach and the cliff instead. We also took the opportunity to have a light lunch before continuing with our trip to Agrigento.
AGRIGENTO
We only visited “The Valley of the Temples” as we arrived at the temple at about 3 pm. We had tickets booked that were valid for the whole day and we could arrive at the park at any time and skip the line.
However, on that day and time, it was not busy at all, and there was no queue. I suppose in the high season and early on the day, it will be a different story.
You can book the same tickets as we did to visit “Valley of the Temples” in advance and skip-the-line via this LINK.
You can also book a day trip from Palermo to “The Valley of the Temples” that includes a visit to “Scala dei Turchi” as well. Tickets to the Temples are not included, you can book them via the link above. This day tour you can book HERE.
The Valle dei Templi (Valley of the Temples), is one of the most outstanding examples of Magna Graecia art and architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage site that truly transports visitors back to antiquity.
Once a leading city of the Mediterranean world known as Akragas, the site today features the magnificent ruins of seven Greek temples perched along a ridge just outside modern Agrigento.
Temples to Explore:
- Temple of Concordia: This is the most famous and best-preserved temple in the complex, remarkably intact due to its conversion into a Christian Basilica in the 6th century AD. Its golden stone columns are an iconic symbol of Sicilian history.
- The Temple of Hera (Juno Lacinia): Located at the easternmost edge of the ridge, this temple offers stunning views and showcases visible signs of damage from a fire during the Carthaginian siege in 406 BC.
- Temple of Heracles (Hercules): The oldest of the main temples, only eight columns remain standing after various earthquakes. Its sheer size hints at its original grandeur.
The above temples are the most important ones. There are other temples scattered around the park, which is very big. We only had time to visit the main temples, and we managed to see all of them in about 2 hours.
We enjoyed seeing these important temples and admired the ancient architecture, even though some of them are just ruins. After seeing them, we went back to the car and drove to Punta Secca, where we were going to spend three nights.
The drive to Punta Secca is about 2 hours, and we arrived there about 9 pm. After checking in at Montalbano House, we walked down the street to “A Musciara” a very nice restaurant close to the house. This restaurant has a dining room in part of the beach. The food was very good, and we had a lovely dinner there.
After dinner, we went back to Montalbano House for a well-deserved rest, as we were very tired after an enjoyable and long day.
In the next post, I will tell you everything about the days we spent in the land of Inspector Montalbano. For those who don’t know who he is, he is the character of a TV series called “Inspector Montalbano” that aired on TV for many years, but it has now finished. I will tell you all about it in the next post.
I hope this post will give you some idea of what can be done in a day in Palermo and will help you plan your own visit there.
Below is a reel from the Travelling Surveyor Instagram account showing more photos of Corleone, Scalla dei Turchi and Agrigento. Check it out and follow me on Instagram as well.
Don’t forget to check the tours of Sicily and other places available at Tourradar, I’m sure you will find the perfect tour that will fit your requirements and budget. If you book it via my link you can get a discount by using this code: RoseG50.
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT AT AGRIGENTO AND CORLEONE
Below you will find a list of what to visit, where to stay and where to eat around Corleone and Agrigento. I classified each place as follows:
BOLD – Visited, tried and recommended
NOT BOLD – Not visited or tried, but planning to visit or try and heard very good reviews
RED – Visited and tried but do not recommend, avoid or be cautious
*** – Excellent
** – Good
* – OK
£££ – Expensive
££ – Fair and affordable
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£ – Cheap
PLEASE NOTE: Every hotel, restaurants and attractions I mention on my blogs are not sponsored reviews and we always paid the full price when visiting. We give our own opinion of the place and detail our experience, good or bad.
THINGS TO DO IN AGRIGENTO AND CORLEONE
ATTRACTIONS
1 – The Godfather’s House Museum – ***
2 – CIDMA (International Documentation Centre on the Mafia)
3 – Scala dei Turchi – ***
4 – Valle dei Templi – ***
WHERE TO STAY
ACCOMMODATION
1 – Corleone Guesthouse – £
2 – Dream Corleone One – £
3 – Hotel Leon D’Oro – Corleone – ££
4 – Krysos Luxury Rooms – Agrigento – ££
5 – Terrazze di Montelusa – Agrigento – ££
6 – La casa di Pippo Flora – Agrigento – ££
If you prefer to look for your own accommodation, search and book via the below widget:
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BEST PLACES TO EAT
RESTAURANTS
1 – La Tavernetta dei Briganti – Corleone – £
2 – Cherry Gold – Corleone – £
3 – Taberna Casanostra – Corleone – ££
4 – Nuccio Ristorante – Agrigento – ££
5 – Carusu Ristorante – Agrigento – £££
6 – Sant’Arfo Enosteria – Agrigento – £££
We only tried the ones in bold , the others are the result of my researches and ones that I would like to try. If you tried any of my recommendations above, please send me a message and tell me about your experience good or bad, so I can update the list accordingly. Thanks!
If you enjoyed reading this post you might also like to read:
On this trip to Italy:
1 – Catania – Day 1
2 – Catania – Day 2
3 – Taormina
4 – Cefalú
5 – Palermo – Day 1
6 – Palermo – Day 2
8 – Punta Secca
9 – Ragusa – Day 1
10 – Ragusa – Day 2
11 – Modica
12 – Noto
13 – Siracusa – Day 1
14 – Siracusa – Day 2 – Coming soon
15 – Catania and Conclusion – Day – 3 – Coming soon
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