VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES

A journey through time to ancient Akragas: beauty that enchants and captures the heart.

TOUR OF THE VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES

The Valley of the Temples: a journey to ancient Akragas.

BEAUTY THAT ENCHANTS AND CAPTURES THE HEART

The Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was home to the beautiful Akragas: a prosperous Greek colony that was a center of culture, architecture, and art. It is an expression of an incredible past spanning 2,600 years, which fascinates, enchants and surprises even today.

Strolling along the sacred road near the majestic Greek temples, you are captivated by the scale of these elegant, pagan, religious buildings, which blend in perfectly with the evocative surrounding landscape of almond trees in prodigious bloom, centuries-old olive trees, agaves, prickly pears, and Mediterranean plants and flowers.

The Temple of Concordia is a must-see monument. Built in the 5th century BC, it is one of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world. A symbol of beauty and architectural perfection, it fully embodies the canon of the Doric order.

The Greek sanctuaries, with their monumental temples, stand as silent witnesses to the splendor of ancient Akragas.

The Temple of Hera Lacinia, or Temple of Juno, located on the southern hill, dominates the landscape. From this height, onlookers can enjoy breathtaking views. The rocky plateau is a natural window facing south. An enchanting celestial vision, sun-kissed wheat fields, vineyards, olive and almond groves, the surrounding hills and the azure Mediterranean Sea can all be seen from here.

Arcosolium tombs, paleochristian necropolis

The Valley of the Temples, with its unforgettable charm, is a site that not only speaks of history, but is history.

Northwest corner, Temple of Juno

Remains of the city walls

West pediment, Temple of Concordia

Details of the nàos, Temple of Concordia

Panoramic view from the Ridge of the Temples

Temple of Juno

THE TEMPLE OF HERCULES

The oldest Doric sanctuary of Akragas.

The construction of the Temple of Heracles dates back to the early stages of Theron’s tyranny. It is the oldest of the monumental temples of Akragas, conventionally attributed to Hercules, as described in a passage from Cicero’s Verrine Orations. Between 1922 and 1924, the English Captain Alexander Hardcastle, a patron of the arts passionate about archeology who had settled in Agrigento, rebuilt eight columns on the southern side of the building.

In the shadow of the collapsed ruins and the mighty sandstone columns, visitors can admire the remains of the once grandiose temples of Akragas. The stones regain life as the history of the opulent Greek city comes to light, revealing secrets and mysteries.

Wandering among the Greek temples of Agrigento is a unique experience. In this extraordinary archaeological park, every visitor feels transported into a Homeric epic and lives in the era of the Olympian deities, amidst great soldiers and legendary heroes, alliances, betrayals and battles, processions and rites, festivals and symposia, Olympic Games, and glorious athletes.

In the southern part of the sanctuary stands the symbol of the city of Agrigento, known in the local dialect as “I Tri Culonni”.

The land immediately to the east of the Kolymbethra is entirely occupied by a series of adjacent sacred areas, dedicated to chthonic cults, located on either side of Gate V. Recent research describes the various phases of the festivals in honor of Demeter and Kore/Persephone held in these sacred areas.

In the southern part of the sanctuary stands the temple traditionally attributed to the Dioscuri, the name given to Castor and Pollux. The symbol of the city of Agrigento, known in the local dialect as “I Tri Culonni,” is a partial 19th century reconstruction made with elements from various eras and of different origins.

Ruins of Temple L, Sanctuary of the Chthonic Deities

THE TELAMON OF AGRIGENTO

The Olympieion: the Temple of the Giants.

The largest and most ambitious of Theron’s undertakings was the construction of a temple of colossal proportions and special features in honor of Olympian Zeus. A unique building, it is comparable only to the temples in Asia Minor and Temple G of Selinunte. It was characterized by a sequence of colossal figures, the Telemons, depicted in the act of supporting the temple’s entablature, exalting the power of Zeus with the strength of their arms. Part of the remains of the gigantic structure were used as building materials in post-ancient times.

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THE KOLYMBETHRA GARDEN

Silent guardian of a lush Mediterranean garden.

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SUNSET IN THE VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES

The Greek Temples light up: an exclusive evening walk.

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REGIONE SICILIANA

REGIONE SICILIANA

VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES

A journey through time to ancient Akragas: beauty that enchants and captures the heart.

The Valley of the Temples: a journey to ancient Akragas.

The Greek sanctuaries, with their monumental temples, stand as silent witnesses to the splendor of ancient Akragas.

The Valley of the Temples, with its unforgettable charm, is a site that not only speaks of history, but is history.

The oldest Doric sanctuary of Akragas.

In the southern part of the sanctuary stands the symbol of the city of Agrigento, known in the local dialect as “I Tri Culonni”.

The Olympieion: the Temple of the Giants.

Silent guardian of a lush Mediterranean garden.

The Greek Temples light up: an exclusive evening walk.

Select your Agrigento Experience!

REGIONE SICILIANA