Why This Italian Town Is Turning Away Tourists

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Agrigento, a Sicilian town perched on a hill, is a paradise for history buffs with its famous Valley of the Temples

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Remarkably, ancient aqueducts that resemble underground mazes still function, channeling water even today

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However, a harsh reality disrupts this charm. Both these historical marvels and modern water systems face critically low levels

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Small hotels and guesthouses in Agrigento and nearby coastal areas are forced to turn away tourists

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In February, Sicily declared a state of emergency and imposed water restrictions

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This shortage significantly impacts tourism and agriculture, the lifeblood of Sicily's economy

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Over a million people across 93 communities now face water rationing, with some areas mandated to cut consumption by up to 45%

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Tourists on platforms like TripAdvisor express concerns about visiting drought-stricken parts of Sicily

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The situation is equally bad for farmers. At an organic farm near Caltanissetta in Central Sicily, goats are drinking a muddy sledge- it used to a pond

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