Borsellino: Astronomy, Olive Oil and Culture

Two different visitor interests come together in Contrada Borsellino: the Planetario di Agrigento is located there, and Santa Oliva offers a tasting tour of the oil mill and olive groves of Azienda Agricola Russo. The Planetario is within the municipality of Joppolo Giancaxio; the other cultural and nature-related attractions also relate to this municipality. The options range from astronomy and earth sciences to church architecture, murals, food festivals and nature trails.

Planetarium in Contrada Borsellino

The Planetario di Agrigento was inaugurated in March 2019 and is an astronomy museum. The museum and exhibition complex, which covers about 300 square metres, is dedicated to astronomy and earth sciences and welcomes both the general public and schools. The dome has a diameter of six metres. The complex also includes a science museum that explains these subjects and an exhibition area with photographs and explanatory information sheets. For school visits, 50 seats are specified; this figure applies explicitly to this type of visit.

The Planetario is within the municipality of Joppolo Giancaxio, a few kilometres from Agrigento. Advance reservations are required for private visits and groups of ten or more. Check the current visiting conditions before your visit.

History and public art in Joppolo Giancaxio

The Chiesa Madre San Francesco di Paola was built in the 17th century and has a neoclassical design. In Joppolo Giancaxio, murals transform building facades and streets into open-air art galleries. Their stories evoke emotions and celebrate local culture and traditions. The church’s architectural style and the stories told by the murals thus offer different ways to experience the culture of the place.

When visiting the Castello ducale di Joppolo Giancaxio, access is an important part of planning: the castle may be privately owned or open only on special occasions, and access is not always guaranteed. Check whether access is possible before visiting. This means a visit to the Castello cannot necessarily be planned like a freely accessible stop.

Olive oil and local festival dates

In Contrada Borsellino, Santa Oliva offers a tasting tour of the oil mill and olive groves of Azienda Agricola Russo. The focus is therefore on olive oil and the agricultural setting of the tour. In Joppolo Giancaxio, the Mangia e Passia street food festival offers a different culinary focus: held annually in June, the festival celebrates typical local produce and Sicilian street food specialities. Check the current festival dates before your trip.

The olive harvest and production of new extra virgin olive oil are also celebrated each year in Joppolo Giancaxio. Here, too, it is worth checking the current programme. The tasting tour, street food festival and olive harvest celebration differ in format and can help you decide which culinary interests to focus on during your trip.

Trekking and mountain biking on nature trails

Trekking and mountain biking are available on nature trails in Joppolo Giancaxio. This gives you two ways to enjoy the outdoors: on foot or by mountain bike. Along with the cultural and culinary attractions, these activities broaden the range of possible focuses for a stay, although they do not all have to be in the same place.

Discover more destinations: Raffadali, Borgo Bonsignore, Cianciana, Aragona, Bivona, Porto Palo Di Menfi, Cammarata and Contrada Fiori Sud.

Back to the main travel overview: Agrigento.