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Valley of the Temples

F2 Agrigento # 8:30am–7pm daily (ruins); 9am–7:30pm Tue–Sat, 9am–1:30pm Mon, Sun & pub hols (Museo Archeologico) § 0922 62 16 11 parcodeitempli.net

Straddling a low ridge to the south of Agrigento, the Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi) is one of the most impressive complexes of ancient Greek buildings outside Greece and a prime example of the magnificence of Magna Graecia.

The Valley of the Temples was once at the heart of the ancient city of Akragas. Founded in 581 BC by colonists from Gela, Akragas was one of Sicily’s richest and most powerful cities – visitors reported that its citizens had ivory furniture, abundant silver and gold, and even made elaborate tombs for their pets. The city was especially well known for breeding horses, which consistently won the Olympic Games. After being besieged by the Carthaginians in 406 BC, Akragas was taken by the Romans in 261 BC, renamed Agrigentum, and remained in Roman control until the fall of the Empire. Today, you can explore the ruins of nine major temples, a series of minor shrines and a fascinating archaeology museum on the site.

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t Temple of Concord, with a statue by Igor Mitoraj in the foreground

Experience Sicily

Valley Highlights

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Museo Archeologico

The Archaeological Museum was opened to the public in 1967. The 13 rooms display objects ranging from prehistoric times to the early Christian period, but the emphasis is on Greek and Roman finds such as vases, statues and sarcophagi. There is also a Telamon (pillar in the form of a male statue) from the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

Temple of Concord

With its 34 columns, this is one of the best-preserved Doric temples in the world, partly thanks to alterations made in the 4th century, when it became a Christian basilica. It was restored to its original Classical form in 1748.

Temple of Olympian Zeus

Only fragmentary ruins remain of this 5th-century-BC temple – the largest Doric temple ever built. It was once supported by 38 giant Telamons, one of which is now on display in the Museo Archeologico.

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Temple of Hera

Relatively well-preserved, this 5th-century-BC temple was restored in Roman times. There are 25 of the original 34 columns still standing. Steps lead up to an altar where animals were sacrificed to the goddess Hera, known by the Romans as Juno.

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Temple of Heracles

These eight columns belonged to the oldest temple dedicated to Heracles, worshipped by both the Greeks and the Romans (as Hercules). The archaic 6th-century-BC Doric structure has an elongated rectangular plan.

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Temple of Castor and Pollux

This temple’s four surviving columns, a symbol of the Valley of the Temples, were restored in the 19th century.

Kolymbetra

From the Greek for “pool”, this sunken garden with a stream running through it formed part of the city’s irrigation system.

Early Christian Catacombs

The Valley features early Christian ruins as well as Magna Graecian monuments. Ipogei of Villa Igea (also known as the Grotta di Frangipane), between the Temple of Heracles and the Temple of Concord, were cut out of the rock to house the bodies of the first Christians here. A series of niches, closed off by stone slabs, alternated with small chapels that still bear traces of wall paintings.