Valley of the Temples in Agrigento

The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is considered the largest archaeological site in the world, with an area of 1,300 hectares. The attraction is located in Sicily, the valley is spread out among almond blossoms, offering scenic views. It represents the ruins of buildings erected by ancient Greek colonists.

The uniqueness of the Valley of Temples in Agrigento

Today it is one of the most visited attractions in the country, which has officially received the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The historical site contains buildings of an ancient civilization. Scientists have discovered here 10 temples of the Doric order dedicated to the world of the gods, and 3 sanctuaries, burials, fragments of a system of fortifications and part of the ancient Roman quarter, which was built on the territory of Ancient Greece. Previously, meetings were held in the valley, which the Greeks called the "agora". There were 2 market squares nearby. A lot has changed since then, but the Greeks and Italians are proud of an amazing place that has no analogues in any country.

Temples in Agrigento

Travelers are very interested in the different locations of the Valley of Temples in Agrigento. For example, the temple of Castor and Pollux of the Dioscuri. These are the mythical twins, the sons of the god Zeus and the wife of King Tyndareus, Leda, who was mentioned in the Illiad and the Odyssey. The temple of the goddess Concordia was built around the 5th century. A Christian church was built here, as evidenced by an inscription found near the building. The temple of Zeus, also called Jupiter, was built as a thank you for his support during the battles with the Carthaginians.

People believed that divine power helped them in the war. The giant figure of Atlas has been preserved, and many people take selfies and set up avatars on social networks against its background. The Temple of Hercules is considered the oldest in the valley. But the building has not been preserved to this day. It collapsed during the earthquake. The cult of the hero is well described in the myths of Ancient Greece. There are 20 temples in total in the Valley of Temples in Agrigento. It is physically impossible to see the complex in one day, so most tourists choose a 3-4-day visit format.

Useful information

You can visit the Valley of Temples in Agrigento every day from 8.30 to 20.00. Admission is free for up to 18 years old. And on the first Sunday of any month, everyone can use this privilege, there is no entrance fee. On other days, to get to the valley, you need to pay 10 euros, during the exhibition period the price increases to 12 euros. Combined tickets for admission to the Regional Museum of Archeology and the Valley of Temples cost from 15 euros, but they are valid for 3 days.

You can rent an audio guide in different foreign languages at the ticket office. But you should leave your ID card as collateral. If you don't have a passport with you, a driver's license will do.The order of visiting the Valley of Temples in Agrigento is chosen by the guests themselves. The valley has 3 entrances. You can take a map with you and navigate by it, or hire a professional guide who knows every corner of the complex.