{"id":67434,"date":"2015-09-21T14:12:01","date_gmt":"2015-09-21T13:12:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/?p=67434"},"modified":"2026-10-12T17:58:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T16:58:06","slug":"valley-of-the-temples-of-agrigento","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/en\/valley-of-the-temples-of-agrigento","title":{"rendered":"Valley of the Temples of Agrigento"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The site of the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento<\/strong>, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is also known as the “divine valley of the Gods,” with its almond trees that blossom from January onwards. It is a unique place, where important archaeological remains emerge amid a remarkable landscape. Here stand several Doric temples from the 5th century BCE, necropolises, and traces of the ancient walls of the Greek city of Akragas, one of the main cities of Magna Graecia, Magna Grecia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Overview of the site<\/h2>\n

Despite what its name suggests, the Greek temples are built on a ridge, not in a valley, a few kilometres south of the modern city of Agrigento<\/a>.
The archaeological park has several entrances. From the old entrance located to the west, two routes are available to the visitor: one leads west, where the ruins of the vast Temple of Olympian Zeus<\/strong> and the remains of other sanctuaries are found, including the Temple of the Dioscuri<\/strong> and the entrance to the Kolymbethra Garden<\/strong>; the other, heading east, crosses the most remarkable part of the park, where three temples follow one another: the Temple of Heracles<\/strong>, the Temple of Concordia<\/strong> – remarkably well preserved – and the Temple of Hera<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Powered by GetYourGuide<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n

Itinerary in the Valley of the Temples<\/h2>\n
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Map of the Valley of the Temples<\/p><\/div>\n

The itinerary proposed here includes the main part of the archaeological park as well as extensions located outside it: the Rupe Atenea<\/strong> on the one hand, and the Agora with the archaeological museum<\/strong> on the other.
It starts from the north-east of the site, beyond the eastern car park and this eastern entrance.<\/p>\n

The Rupe Atenea, the Athenian rock<\/h3>\n

To the north of the site entrance, one can reach (by car) the summit of the Rupe Atenea<\/strong><\/a>, the Acropolis of Akragas, where sanctuaries were notably located, such as the Temple of Demeter<\/strong> at the end of the cliff, incorporated into the medieval church of San Biagio<\/strong>. 
Remains of towers from the 5th century BCE attest to its defensive role. A rock sanctuary, backed against the rock, features interconnected cavities, with a basin that served as a reservoir. This would be an indigenous sanctuary, probably with Punic occupation in the 4th century BCE.
Porta I is located in a natural hollow and preserves few remains, with a defensive tower reinforcing a corner. 
The Porta II Quarter, on two terraces with a regular plan, of an artisanal nature, dates from the 5th century with a Punic occupation in the 4th century BCE. Porta II, or Porta de Gela, is located in a natural gap, which linked the valley to the main axis of the city. <\/p>\n

Hill of the Temples: the main park<\/h3>\n

Eastern sector<\/h4>\n
\"Valley<\/a>

Temple of Juno (Hera)<\/p><\/div>\n

From the main eastern entrance, one reaches the Via Sacra<\/strong> and the highest part of the site, where the Temple of Juno<\/strong><\/a> stands (around 460 BCE), accompanied, in front, by the remains of the sacrificial altar<\/strong>. To the west opens another gate (Gate III).
Following the Via Sacra, the modern road that crosses the Hill of the Temples from east to west, one passes remains of Greek walls and Byzantine tombs located on the left. Further on appears the Temple of Concordia<\/strong><\/a> (around 430 BCE), one of the best preserved in the Greek world.
Continuing, one encounters on the right tombs belonging to the early Christian necropolis, while on the left is the garden of Villa Aurea<\/strong>, where underground tombs (catacombs) survive.<\/p>\n

\"Temple<\/a>

Temple of Heracles<\/p><\/div>\n

The path then leads to the Temple of Heracles<\/strong><\/a>, the oldest of the temples of Agrigento (late 6th century BCE). Below, at nearly 200 metres, stands a Roman tomb traditionally called the Tomb of Theron<\/strong> (tomba di Terone in Italian), although this attribution is erroneous.<\/p>\n

Western sector<\/h4>\n

After crossing the road, Porta IV or Porta Aurea<\/strong> leads to the plain of San Gregorio, where the remains of an important archaeological complex survive, with several sacred areas, whose religiosity dates back to the 6th century BCE, with particular reference to the chthonic cult (linked to the fertility of the earth and the underworld) of Demeter and Kore.
The area is also accessible from Gate V.<\/p>\n

From the Hardcastle entrance, one reaches the western zone, with the remains of the Temple of Olympian Zeus<\/strong><\/a>, which was a colossal building, one of the largest in the Greek world (after 480 BCE), although never completed. There one can see the gigantic statues of the telamons (about 7.60 metres), once placed between the columns; a cast of one of them is displayed on site, the original being kept at the archaeological museum of Agrigento<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Temple<\/a>

Temple of the Dioscuri<\/p><\/div>\n

In the next, lower area lies the sanctuary of the chthonic deities (Demeter and Persephone), with in the center the remains of a temple known as the Temple of Castor and Pollux<\/strong><\/a>, uncertainly reconstructed in the early 20th century.
To the north stretches the Kolymbethra Garden<\/strong><\/a>, famous for its citrus fruits; to the south, Gate V leads to another ticket office of the site.<\/p>\n

Further on, a path on the right leads to the Temple of Vulcan<\/strong><\/a> or Hephaestus, of which the base and two columns remain.<\/p>\n

Agora and archaeological museum<\/h3>\n

From the Porta Aurea, towards the center of Agrigento, one reaches the hill of Saint Nicholas, where the Upper Agora<\/strong><\/a> once stood. It is dominated by the Cistercian Gothic church, which houses a famous Roman sarcophagus and a large crucifix.
Nearby are the Ekklesiasterion<\/strong>, a semi-circular meeting place of the popular assembly, as well as a sanctuary known as the Oratory of Phalaris.
The buildings of the former Cistercian monastery now house the Regional Archaeological Museum of Agrigento<\/a>.
The remains of the Hellenistic-Roman Quarter<\/strong><\/a>, comprising houses and streets, are also located in this area.<\/p>\n

Information and tickets<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Opening hours and prices<\/h3>\n