Valle dei Templi

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About Valle dei Templi

The Valle dei Templi corresponds to ancient Akragas, a Greek colony founded around 580 BC by settlers from Gela that became one of the richest cities of the Greek world. Despite the name, the temples sit on a ridge between the modern town and the sea. The archaeological park covers about 1,300 hectares and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

The main route follows the Via Sacra, from east to west. The Tempio di Giunone, at the highest point, preserves much of its columns. The Tempio della Concordia, dated roughly 440–430 BC, is one of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world because it was converted into a Christian church in the 6th century. In front of it stands the large bronze sculpture of the Fallen Icarus by Igor Mitoraj. Next come the early Christian necropolises carved into the rock and the Tempio di Ercole, the oldest, with eight restored columns.

On the other side of the road lie the ruins of the Tempio di Zeus Olimpio, which would have been the largest Doric temple ever built, with the telamones—giant stone figures that supported the structure—and the Tempio dei Dioscuri, with four columns that have become a symbol of Agrigento. The Giardino della Kolymbethra sits between them, in a valley.

At the end of winter the almond trees bloom among the temples and the town holds the Mandorlo in Fiore festival. In summer, the park often opens at night with the temples illuminated.