Here amid the stark nature and crystal-clear waters of Sicily, the Italian island famous for its rich cultural and historical heritage, there is a place that takes visitors’ breath away. It is the magnificent Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, an open-air archeology museum that was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. The 1300-hectare archeological area is a souvenir of the ancient hilltop city of Akragas, the center of the future Agrigento. The city flourished in the 5th century BC and was a Greek colony, as can be seen by the style of its art and architecture.
The Valley of the Temples includes some of the most important examples of classical Greek art and culture and the ruins tell us history from thousands of years ago. The city of Akragas went through many vicissitudes and was constantly in foreigners’ sights because of its important strategic location on the Mediterranean sea. It was conquered by the Carthaginians in 410 BC, who razed it to the ground; then by the Romans a few centuries later, who gave new splendor to the city, naming it Agrigentum.
Together let’s discover the most important sights to visit at the Valley of the Temples.
The archeological area of the Valley of the Temples has a total of 8 temples, some of which are very well preserved.
1. Temple of the Dioscuri
Also called the Temple of Castor and Pollux. The temple actually lies in the Sanctuary of the Chthonic Deities and was therefore probably erected in honor of the gods of the Earth (Demeter, Persephone, Dionysus) and not Castor and Pollux.
2. Temple of Zeus
Once one of the largest temples in the world, comparable to the famous Parthenon in Athens. It was as big as a soccer field and could hold up to about 42,000 people. Now only the base of this magnificent temple remains, but there is a reconstruction model in the Agrigento Museum of Archeology that gives an idea of how its architecture would have been.
3. Temple of Heracles
Or Temple of Hercules, the the main cult in ancient Akragas. This is one of the oldest temples of the valley, and was destroyed by an earthquake. Today we can see only eight of the original columns.
4. Temple of Concordia
It is the best-preserved temple and the symbol of the Valley of the Temples, built in 480 BC to honor Zeus. One of a kind, it remained intact because it was converted to a Christian church in the 6th century AD. Special to the temple were the telamons: stone giants representing Atlas, almost eight meters tall that held up to the temple roof, figuratively the sky. At the valley there is a copy of a telamon, while the only original, the Telamon of Olympian Zeus, along with the remains of three others, are housed at the Agrigento Museum of Archeology.
5. Temple of Juno
Or of Hera Lacinia, where weddings were celebrated. Architecturally similar to the Temple of Concordia, the base and columns have remained intact. The temple was about 20 meters tall and surrounded by 34 columns. It was constructed in about 450 BC and was destroyed by the Carthaginians when they took control of the city.
The other three, less famous temples not to be overlooked are:
6. The Temple of Vulcan
7. The Temple of Demeter
8. The Temple of Asclepius (God of Medicine) which accommodated sick people.
There are various other areas in the Valley of the Temples to look out for as you move among the temples:
- Necropolis: stretches along the road to Temple of the Concordia, and its characteristic catacombs are still well-preserved.
- The Agora areas, which span many terraces and were the center of public life, where you can glimpse the Bouleuterion (the “Town Hall”) and the Oratory of Phalaris.
- The Kolymbetra Garden, lush with plants and citrus trees, managed by the FAI, the National Trust of Italy.
True history and archeology lovers won’t want to miss out on the Museum of Archeology, which houses excellently-preserved amphoras, mosaics and statues found in the Valley of the Temples and surrounding areas. You can also visit the Valley of the Temples at night, an unforgettable experience! Especially in the summer, it can also be a more comfortable time to visit. The best time to arrive is about 6:30 pm, so you can enjoy the splendid sunset over the temples.
Now is the time to book your trip to Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples! This important archeological site can be reached from our splendid holiday villas in Sicily, such as Villa Agorà, Villa Camemi and Villa Dimora Pura
