Agrigento to be Italy's culture capital in 2025

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 31 - The Sicilian city of Agrigento will be Italy's culture capital in 2025, Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano announced on Friday.
    Agrigento, which was one of the one of the leading cities of ancient Greece's Magna Graecia and is home to the stunning 'Valley of the Temples' archaeological site, beat off competition from Aosta, Assisi, Asti, Bagnoregio, Monte Sant'Angelo, Orvieto, Pescina, Roccasecca and Spoleto.
    Italy's first capital of culture was Mantua in 2016.
    It was followed by Pistoia (2017), Palermo (2018), Parma, whose stint for 2020 was extended to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Procida last year.
    The northern cities of Bergamo and Brescia are this year's capital and Pesaro will have the honour in 2024.
    Sangiuliano added that next year Italy will assign a city the title of being the country's contemporary art capital.
    Italy also has a book capital, which is Genoa this year. (ANSA).