Valley of the Temples

Located in Agrigento, Sicily, this UNESCO World Heritage site preserves the remains of Akragas, one of the most influential Greek cities in the Mediterranean. The archaeological park features seven well-preserved Doric temples dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries BC. Highlights include the nearly intact Temple of Concordia and the massive ruins of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. The site also encompasses Hellenistic residential quarters, early Christian necropolises, and the lush Kolymbetra Garden.

Valley of the Temples — Carte

General Cucombre / CC BY 2.0

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Valley of the Temples

Archaeological park featuring well-preserved ancient Greek temples and architecture, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It includes a museum and accessible facilities highlighting ancient art and Greek heritage.

Berthold Werner / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Temple of Juno (Hera Lacinia)

The so-called Temple of "Hera", otherwise known as Temple D, is a Greek temple in the Valle dei Templi, a section of the ancient city of…

Clemensfranz / CC BY 2.5

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Temple of Castor and Pollux

Reconstructed in the 19th century using ancient fragments, these four Doric columns have become a symbol of Agrigento. The temple dates to the late 5th century BC and was dedicated to the twin sons of Zeus.

Clemensfranz / CC BY 2.5

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Temple of Heracles

The Temple of Heracles or Temple of Hercules is an ancient Greek temple of Magna Graecia in the ancient city of Akragas, located in the…

Josep Renalias / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Temple of Concordia

The Temple of Concordia is an ancient Greek temple of Magna Graecia in the Valle dei Templi in Agrigento on the south coast of Sicily,…

José Luiz / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Temple of Olimpic Jupiter

The Temple of Olympian Zeus in Agrigento, Sicily was the largest Doric temple ever constructed, although it was never completed and now…

Zde / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Kolymbetra

A lush garden managed by FAI, situated in a natural depression that served as an ancient reservoir. It features traditional Sicilian citrus and almond groves alongside ancient Greek irrigation tunnels.

Robert Koldewey / CC BY-SA 2.5

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Akragas

The site of the ancient Greek city founded in 580 BC. It encompasses the broader urban layout, defensive walls, and public spaces that formed one of the wealthiest cultural centers of the Mediterranean.

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Il Teatro di Akragas

A Hellenistic theater discovered in 2016. Located on a slope near the archaeological museum, it dates back to the late 4th or early 3rd century BC and served as a center for public assembly.

Giorgio Stagni / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Temple of Vulcano

A 5th-century BC Doric structure located at the western edge of the archaeological park. Though largely in ruins, it retains two standing columns and a significant portion of its original foundation.

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Gymnasium

An ancient athletic complex from the Hellenistic and Roman periods used for physical training and education. The site features a large courtyard once surrounded by porticoes and seating areas.

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Quartiere Ellenistico Romano

An extensive residential district showcasing Hellenistic and Roman urban planning. The area contains several blocks of houses featuring well-preserved peristyles and intricate floor mosaics.

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Basilica Paleocristiana

An early Christian place of worship built near the ancient city walls. It represents the site's transition during late antiquity, incorporating elements of earlier Greek fortifications and necropolises.

William Wilkins / Public domain

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Tempio di Esculapio

Situated in the San Gregorio plain outside the city walls, this small Doric temple was dedicated to the god of medicine and functioned as a sanctuary where pilgrims sought divine healing.

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Tempio L

The remains of a 5th-century BC temple located within the Sanctuary of the Chthonic Deities. Though now collapsed, the site provides archaeological evidence of ancient religious rituals and temple construction.