Valle dei Templi, meaning Valley of the Temples, is an archaeological site containing the well preserved ruins of Doric (old, simple Greek architecture) temples, located in Agrigento on the Italian island of Sicily. The collection of temples are the main attraction of Agrigento, which was once one of the greatest cities in the Mediterranean because of its great location on the southern Sicilian coast. A prosperous market city, Agrigento was settled by the Greeks as early as the 7th century BC. The city, then called Akragas, had a thriving community, but the Carthaginian arrived and sacked the city in 406 BC, destroying many of these temples. The city later fell to the Romans in 262 BC, becoming part of the Roman Empire.
There are several temples at the site, in various degrees of preservation. The Temple of Heracles (Tempio di Ercole) is the oldest of these temples, constructed during the 6th century BC. The Temple of Concordia (Tempio della Concordia) is the best preserved, though it was built in 440-450 BC, it later served as a church and is still mostly intact.
Atop the ridge is the Temple of Juno (Tempio di Giunone), once a ceremonial site for weddings, it was built in the 5th century BC and burnt down by the Carthaginians in 406 BC. The Temple of the Olympian Zeus was built in 480 BC in celebration of the victory over Carthage.
On the western side of the site lies the Temple of Jupiter (Tempio di Giove), which was never completed and lies in ruins. Additionally, there is the Tempio di Dioscuri (twins Castor and Pollux), a small but important temple, with only 4 columns remaining.
The (Tomb of Theron) Tomba di Terone was from Roman times but designed in the Grecian style, and was probably a monument for those killed in the Second Punic War.
Excavations of the area were undertaken and much was uncovered from the residential regions of the city, including Christian cemeteries and homes with mosaic tiled floors. To learn more about the history of the city and view artifacts removed from the Valle de Templi, head to the Archaeological Museum in town.
Valle dei Templi Map
Facts about Valle dei Templi
- The well-preserved Temple of Concord is constructed with 34 columns.
- The site of the Valle dei Templi covers an area of about 934 hectares.
- All that is left standing of the Temple of Heracles are 8 massive columns – the rest were toppled during earthquakes.
Where is Valle dei Templi?
The Valley of the Temples is in the city of Agrigento, on the southern coast of Sicily, which is off the southern coast of Italy. Sicily is technically part of Italy. Agrigento is accessible by train to the city center from Palermo or other large cities of Sicily. Alternative options are a bus or boat.
To get around town, the city center is not very large and can be accessed on foot fairly easily. However, if it is especially hot, visitors may want to make use of the buses that run around town.
Best time to visit Valle dei Templi
Agrigento gets quite hot and dry in the summer, and since there isn’t much shade at the site, aside from some trees and the shadows created by the monuments visitors should avoid going in the dead of summer when temperatures rise. If the heat is unavoidable, an umbrella and plenty of sunscreen are recommended accessories. Spring and fall are likely the best times to visit the site.
Valle dei Templi Hours
The temples are open from about 8:30 am to 7 pm every day, though admittance ends a half an hour before closing.
Valle dei Templi Tickets
The cost for entrance to the temples is about 10 euro. Audio guides are available and will greatly add to the experience if you’re not familiar with the history – but they cost extra.
More on Valle dei Templi
Nearby Attractions: Mount Etna, Catacombe dei Cappuccini, Stromboli, Palermo
Don’t miss Italy major attractions: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Amalfi Coast, Venice, Colosseum, Rome, Portofino, Uffizi Gallery, Pompeii.