Porto Empedocle is a port town close to the city of Agrigento, in the province of Agrigento in Sicily, Italy.
The city is closely linked to the capital Agrigento with which it forms a conurbation. Porto Empedocle has over 17,000 inhabitants. The port activities are very important economically, but these days it is also a tourist resort with beaches that stretch for more than 3 km.
Porto Empedocle was founded under the name of Marina di Girgenti as the port of the ancient city of Girgenti, the current Agrigento. In the mid-16th century, the Torre del Caricatore di Girgenti tower was restored and was an important part of the defense of the marine area for a long time. In 1863 the name of the city changed to Empedocle as a tribute to the Greek philosopher Empedocle, who was born in Akragas (Agrigento). In 2009 Porto Empedocle officially became a city.
The city is easy to reach from all directions. There are no motorways, but the secondary roads are generally good and traverse the entire province. From Palermo over SS121 and SS189, from Trapani and Syracuse over SS115 and from Catania via Gela over SS417 and SS115.
There are three bus companies in Sicily, Sais, Ast and Interbus, which connect the main cities.
There is a rail link between Porto Empedocle to the central station of Agrigento. More information about rail services can be obtained from Trenitalia.
Some cruise ships stop here and there is a ferry connection with the Pelagie Islands.
There is no international airport in the province. Porto Empedocle is about as far from the three main airports:
You can easily go around by foot.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division