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Located in Sicily, it houses ancient Greek temples dedicated to the gods, showcasing the art and faith of an ancient civilization.
The remarkably preserved Temple of Concordia stands as an icon of harmony and perfection, while the Temple of Juno epitomizes grandeur and grace. These monuments tell millennia-old tales of human wisdom, celebrating an incredible cultural heritage that belongs to all of humanity. The Valley of the Temples is a true trove of historical treasures, reminding us of our past and teaching us to safeguard our heritage for future generations.
The Valley of the Temples, nestled upon the rocky ridge that once marked the southern border of the ancient city of Akragas, is a magnificent testament to the bygone world and an emblem of Greece's enduring influence on Sicily and Italy. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it stands among the world's most extensive and breathtaking archaeological wonders, sharing this distinction with the likes of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Located on a plateau not far from the Mediterranean Sea, a mere stone's throw from Agrigento's historic center, the Valley of the Temples is celebrated worldwide for its grand Doric temples. These temples bear witness to the zenith of ancient Greek culture and artistry, making them a treasured relic of Magna Graecia, the Greek colonies of Southern Italy.
Two such temples are the Temple of the Dioscuri and the Temple of Heracles. For centuries, these Greek temples have been emblematic of Agrigento and are esteemed globally as the most enchanting and stately remnants that Magna Grecia bestowed upon Sicily and the entire Italian peninsula.
The millennia-long tale of the Valley of the Temples commences in the 6th century BC with the establishment of the ancient colony of Akragas. It reached the pinnacle of its splendor in the 5th century BC, evolving into one of the most prominent Greek colonies in Sicily, partly due to the reign of Tyrant Theron and the triumph over the Carthaginians in the Battle of Himera in 480 BC. During this era, the monumental temples that captivate our imagination to this day were constructed.
In 406 BC, Carthage staged a comeback, capturing Akragas. It wasn't until two centuries later, following the Roman conquest, that the city regained its former glory, rebranded as Agrigentum.
The Archaeological Park of Agrigento shelters the most solemn and best-preserved Greek temples in Sicily, serving as a unique testament to the grandeur of ancient Akragas. In 1997, UNESCO acknowledged the ensemble of Doric temples as one of the foremost illustrations of Greek art and culture. Its extraordinary state of preservation allows us to gaze upon it, despite the passage of millennia.
The Valley of the Temples encompasses an area of 1,300 hectares, concealed beneath olive groves and fields. While not all of this vast ancient urban complex has been unearthed, the artistic masterpieces you can appreciate during a leisurely stroll through the valley are a source of unparalleled emotions, much like the astonishment felt when this magical site was rediscovered in the late 18th century after centuries of neglect.
To embark on your exploration of the Valley of the Temples, begin at the summit of the Rupe Atenea. Here, you'll not only enjoy a breathtaking view of the archaeological site but also discover what remains of the Temple of Demeter, which is now integrated into the medieval church of San Biagio. Following the path along the Via Panoramica dei Templi, you'll encounter the Temple of Juno, constructed around 450 BC. Of this magnificent structure, 30 columns remain standing, 16 of which still bear their capitals.
The Temple of Concordia, located along the Sacred Way, is the best-preserved Doric temple globally, second only to the Parthenon. Though it is known by its current name, its true dedication remains a subject of speculation. The excellent state of preservation, with its 78 columns, imposing pediment, and tympanum, can be attributed to Bishop Gregory, who, in the 6th century AD, converted it into a Christian church, thereby sparing it from the pillage that befell other structures.
The Temple of Heracles, the oldest of Agrigento's temples, was constructed in the late 6th century BC and is mentioned in Cicero's Verrine Orations. Only nine of the original 38 columns remain, painstakingly reassembled in the 20th century from original fragments discovered on-site. Just below the temple, you'll encounter the so-called Tomb of Theron, a Roman-era funerary monument, albeit erroneously attributed to the ancient tyrant of Akragas.
The Temple of Zeus, one of the largest in the Greek world, greets visitors with its towering foundations and a monumental altar, giving only a partial glimpse of its immense size. At 30 meters in height and over 100 meters in length, it was constructed to commemorate the victory in the Battle of Himera in 480 BC. Among its columns once stood the 38 colossal Telamon statues, each 8 meters in height. An example of these statues, while not the original, can be appreciated in all its splendor at the Regional Archaeological Museum Pietro Griffo in Agrigento.
Among the last structures preserved in the Valley of the Temples stands the emblem of Agrigento, the Temple of the Dioscuri. These four columns support a section of the entablature and are a product of 19th-century reconstruction, composed of fragments.
Inglese: The Valley of the Temples, one of the world's largest archaeological sites, rests on the rocky ridge that marks the southern boundary of the plateau where ancient Akragas once stood. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it stands as one of Italy's most significant and magnificent relics from the ancient world, alongside Pompeii and Herculaneum. Located on a plateau not far from the sea, near the historic center of Agrigento, the Valley of the Temples is renowned worldwide for its imposing Doric temples, which constitute some of the most significant representations of Greek culture and art.
For centuries, the Greek temples, symbols of Agrigento, have been universally recognized as the most captivating and majestic legacy left by Magna Graecia to Sicily and Italy as a whole. Two notable examples include the Temple of the Dioscuri and the Temple of Heracles. The millennia-long history of the Valley of the Temples commenced in the 6th century BC with the founding of the ancient colony of Akragas. The city reached its zenith in the 5th century BC, becoming one of the most important Greek colonies in Sicily, partly due to the rule of the tyrant Theron and the victory over the Carthaginians in the Battle of Himera in 480 BC. It was during this time that the temples we can still admire today were constructed. Carthage, however, exacted revenge in 406 BC by conquering the city of Akragas, which only regained its splendor two centuries later with the Roman conquest, leading to its renaming as Agrigentum. The Archaeological Park of Agrigento hosts the most solemn and well-preserved Greek temples in Sicily, serving as a unique testament to the fact that ancient Akragas was one of Magna Graecia's grandest cities.
In recognizing the complex of Doric temples as one of the primary examples of Greek art and culture, UNESCO included the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento in the World Heritage List in 1997, also acknowledging its exceptional state of preservation across millennia. The Valley of the Temples extends across 1,300 hectares just a stone's throw away from Agrigento. Not all of the massive urban layout has been unearthed; some of it remains concealed beneath fields and olive groves surrounding this marvelous area. However, fear not: the masterpieces you can admire while strolling through the valley will offer you unique emotions, as they did in the late 18th century when this magical place was rediscovered after centuries of neglect.
Begin your visit to the Valley of the Temples from the top of the Rupe Atenea, where you can not only enjoy a unique view of the archaeological site but also appreciate what remains of the Temple of Demeter, incorporated into the medieval church of San Biagio. Descending along the Panoramic Way of the Temples, you'll encounter the Temple of Juno, built around 450 BC. Of this majestic structure, 30 columns, 16 of which retain their capitals, are preserved.
The Temple of Concord is the best-preserved Doric temple in the world, along with the Parthenon, and awaits you along the Sacred Way. The name we know it by is derived from a Latin inscription found nearby, though to this day, we have no certainty about the god to whom it was dedicated. The excellent state of preservation of its 78 columns, imposing pediment, and tympanum is thanks to Bishop Gregory, who decided to convert it into a Christian church in the 6th century AD, sparing it from the looting that befell other structures on the site.
The Temple of Heracles is the oldest of the Agrigento temples, built at the end of the 6th century BC and mentioned by Cicero in the Verrine Orations. Of the original 38 columns, only nine remain, reconstructed in the 20th century by assembling, piece by piece, the original fragments found in the area. Just below, you can see the so-called Tomb of Theron, a Roman-era sepulchral monument wrongly attributed to the ancient tyrant of Akragas.
The Temple of Zeus, among the largest in the Greek world, greets visitors today with its imposing foundations and a monumental altar, providing only a partial idea of its once immense size. Standing at 30 meters in height and over 100 meters in length, the temple was constructed to celebrate the victory in the Battle of Himera in 480 BC. Among its columns were the 38 telamons, gigantic statues standing at 8 meters in height, one of which you can see lying next to the ruins. However, this is not the original, as the fully preserved original resides in the Regional Archaeological Museum Pietro Griffo in Agrigento.
Among the last structures preserved in the Valley of the Temples is the symbol of the city of Agrigento, the Temple of the Dioscuri, featuring four columns supporting a corner of the entablature. It is the result of a 19th-century reconstruction, assembled from pieces of various eras found in the area.
