The valley of the temples stands in the center of ancient akragas, the original civilization of modern day agrigento. Its establishment took place around 582580 bc and is attributed to greek colonists from gela, who named it akragas. Agrigento and the valley of the temples, italy city map english, spanish, french, italian and german edition book book details. Mar 24, 2020 a brief history of the valley of the temples in sicily. The valley of the temples glorious greek monuments in. Aug 24, 2015 if you decide to visit the valley of the temples in agrigento, or want to find out how you can experience that ancient culture anywhere in modern sicily, the page you need is ancient history things to do on holidays in sicily. It was the temple of juno i noticed first but it was not until the temple of concordia came into view when i was taken by how seemingly easy it was placed up on the ridge. Agrigento and valley of the temples day trip from palermo from usd 71. Valley of the temples agrigento lumia case vacanze sicily at 60 km agrigento and the valley of the temples is an obliged stage for who want to visit the magnificent of sicilys history.
The site at agrigento is not a valley in fact, but a ridge, sitting 230 metres. Placed outside the town of agrigento on the western side of sicily the valley of the temples includes eight handsome and magnificent doric temples and other ancient greek remains that form the most important archaeological park in the south of italy. The akragas of the greeks, the agrigentum of the romans, had ended up in. Valley of the temples agrigento oneday itinerary the valley of the temples and agrigento in a day. Valley of the temples, a misnomer, as it is a ridge, rather than a valley. Agrigento was founded on a plateau overlooking the sea, with two nearby rivers, the hypsas and the akragas, and a ridge to the north offering a degree of natural fortification. This splendid archaeological park consists of eight temples and various other remains built between about 510 bc and 430 bc. Valley of the temples sicily visitor guide and photo tour.
Its always the right time to plan a trip to the valley of the temples sicily of agrigento, where history and nature intertwine and mutually reinforce eachother visit the valley and savour the stunning landscapes of inland sicily with its awakening nature. C the temple of concordia, the temple juno, the temple of heracles, the temple of olympian zeus, the temple of castor and pollux, the temple of asclepius, and the temple of vulcan. Italian driving can be nerveracking for newbies, and sicilys winding mountain roads are seriously tough. On the travel radar since goethe sang their praises in the 18th century, the temples now constitute sicilys single biggest tourist site, with more than 600,000 visitors a year. The valley of the temples is a mustsee for archaeology and ancient history buffs. A guide to valley of the temples in agrigento, sicily musement. The valley of the temples agrigento hotel hotel costazzurra. One of the most impressive is the valley of the temples. It is one of the most outstanding examples of greater greece book your guided visits to agrigento with rosa maria montalbano, authorized official guide of the valley of the temples, and with many years experience in italian, spanish and english. Valle dei templi agrigento all you need to know before. Visit the archaeological museum of agrigento, where an extensive collection of artifacts offers insight into the splendors of the ancient greek colony of akragas, which once stood on this site. The valley of the temples agrigento the cultured bee. Vaddi di li tempri is an archaeological site in agrigento ancient greek akragas, sicily. Agrigento valle dei templi or valley of temples in sicily.
Kids enjoy exploring the park, but to maximize their experience consider booking a private tour with a local guide who offers familyfriendly tours. The cultural landscape of the valley of the temples displays the best of ancient architecture and agricultural land. The valley of the temples in agrigento sicily on web. The greek temples are fabulous and it is an easy, if quite long. While not being the prettiest city in sicily, modern agrigento is worth a brief visit, if only for the wonderful views of the valley of the temples and the sea villas in sicily near agrigento for a good lunch after viewing the temples, head for leon doro in san leone, on the coast south of agrigento. As a result, if you wish to know the history of the construction of the temples, you will have to opt for a guided tour. The city was founded in around 580 bc and prospered until it was conquered and destroyed by the carthaginians in 406. The valley of the temples the archaeological area of agrigento, in sicily, was included in 1997 in the unesco world heritage list. The closest temple to the road is temple a, also called the temple of herakles. Information about sites to be visited is provided en route to sites and at the valley in agrigento, visitors are dropped at one end and met at gate v at the other end. A brief history of the valley of the temples in sicily. Inside it kept a bronze statue of hercules himself, which the akragantines loved very much. The valley of the temples in agrigento guide of valley.
This unesco site dates from the 5 th century bc and is the largest archaeological site in the world. The archaeological area of agrigento, in sicily, was included in 1997 in the unesco world heritage list. The valley of the temples in agrigento is the largest archaeological site in the world. The valley of temples in agrigento is one of the main attractions of sicily, and a national monument of italy, included in the unesco heritage site list in 1997. In 1997 the valley of the temples was declared a unesco world heritage site. At the end of the peak, dominating a vast space between the peak of agrigento and the sea, the temple of hera precedes a furnace bridge used for the sacrifices during antiquity built towards the middle of the vth bc, it is dedicated to the protective goddess of the marriage and wife of zeus. Jan 07, 2019 in 1997 the valley of the temples was declared a unesco world heritage site. Photos, descriptions, maps and opinions for choosing the holiday solution thats best for you. The best preserved temple in the valley of the temples. Agrigento, sicilys most famous greek site, is famous above all for its valley of the temples valle dei templi and tourists in a hurry such as those on organised cruise ship excursions will visit only this spot. Continue your education at the unesco world heritagelisted valley of the.
The park was awarded unesco world heritage status in 1997. These ruins are the remains of the ancient city of akragas which was a major hellenic town on the meditteranean coast. The 10 best valley of the temples valle dei templi tours. I have made a slideshow of the excavated ancient greek city of akragas in the province of agrigento, sicily. Temple of vulcan, also built in the 5th century is also showing its age but was once one of the biggest of course this area is a unesco heritage site. Temple of concord in the valley of temples, agrigento. Sicilys valley of the temples contains the remains of seven temples dating back to the 5th and 6th century b. Transport yourself back to the 6th century bc and the time of the ancient greeks when you visit agrigento and the valley of the temples in italy this incredibly well preserved series of temples and buildings is one of italys most famous archaeological sites and a must visit on your trip to sicily.
A visitors guide to the valley of the temples and agrigento. Our tours to agrigentos temple area give you plenty of free time to explore and if you take this tour privately you can determine the amount of time, number of stops and whats included. The valley is found near the site of the ancient greek colony and city of akragas, now known as agrigento. Agrigento, in which they are located, had been a greek colony since the 6th century bc. Valley of the temples travel agrigento, sicily, italy. At 60 km agrigento and the valley of the temples is an obliged stage for who want to visit the magnificent of sicilys history. Palermoitaly tour agrigento full day, valley of temples. Amazing architecture, delicious food, crystal waters, ancient cities and much more.
The valley of the temples, the regional museum giuseppe di giovanni, color photographs on. Temple of juno lacinia in the valle dei templi valley of the temples in agrigento, sicily, italy. This is the most ancient of the remaining temples at agrigento, dating to the sixth century bc. According to tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience valle dei templi.
A guide to valley of the temples in agrigento, sicily. These ruins are the remains of the ancient city of akragas which was a major hellenic town on the meditteranean coast declared a unesco heritage site in 1997, agrigento is filled with impressive doric temples one of which is completely intact even today. The land in the valley was very fertile, and favourable for cereal. Agrigento half day tour context travel context travel.
Some private guided tours can be booked online ain advance and may leave from your hotel in agrigento while others leave from the ticket office of the temple of juno. Agrigento, sicily the valley of the temples the thinking. Valley of temples in sicily or valle dei templi is a greek archaeological site in agrigento, a hilltop town in southwestern sicily. The eastern half of the valley of the temples contains the most complete and impressive ruins. Vaddi di li tempri is an archaeological site in agrigento ancient greek akragas, sicily, southern italy. Along with the amphitheatres in taormina and syracusa, the parco valle dei templi are some of the most impressive greek ruins in sicily, if not the world. The webs source of information for ancient history. The history of agrigento 25 centuries of agrigento history. History agrigento was founded on a plateau overlooking the sea, with two nearby rivers, the hypsas and the akragas, and a ridge to the north offering a degree of natural fortification. This sicilian plateau spans 1,300 hectares of sundrenched history, where some of the most remarkable ruins of ancient greek and byzantine empires are still standing tall. Valley of the temples, agrigento, sicily, italia youtube. History of the valley of the temples the valley is found near the site of the ancient greek colony and city of akragas, now known as agrigento. This was once one of the most important cities in magna graecia, a term meaning great greece given by the greeks to the areas that they settled in italy. Valley of the temples unesco visit sicily official page.
The site has being located on a ridge outside the town of agrigento. Crafted to allow a solid introduction for those visiting agrigento for the first time or travelers returning, explore the local history and cultural depth of this intriguing area of sicily. Valle dei templi agrigento 2020 what to know before you. The rediscovery of akragas began towards the end of the eighteenth century, when the first european travellers reached sicily, discovering an unexpected and immense artistic, archaeological heritage. The city of palermo, sicily has so many attractions its mindblowing.
The origin of the valley dates back to the 6th century bc, when the greek settlers, who had first settled in gela south of agrigento, decided to go back a bit more inland in order to counter selinuntes attempts to expand. Jul 28, 2019 one of the most impressive is the valley of the temples. Once more in the valley of the temples at agrigento, the gigantic sculptures of igor mitoraj stand among the ancient remains of classical civilization, a setting with an aesthetic and emotional impact. Discover agrigento on our 4hour halfday tour with a local expert or scholar. Valley of the temples agrigento italy unesco world. It is thanks to the community of lovers and protectors of antiquity that we can experience agrigento and the valley of the temples today. Among the various tourist attractions you can see in sicily, there is, with no shadow of grey, the valley of the temples. Valle dei templi agrigento, sicily, italy please subscribe.
Aug, 2014 the valley of the temples in agrigento is a proof of that. May 05, 2019 valley of temples in sicily or valle dei templi is a greek archaeological site in agrigento, a hilltop town in southwestern sicily. Agrigento and the valley of the temples, italy city map. The temple of zeus which is the largest and best preserved is amazing to look at the temple to concordia is one of most complete greek temples in the world the temple of juno was built in the 5th century but was destroyed in 406 by the carthaginians temple of heracles is the oldest temple in the valley and was torn down by an earthquake temple of castor and pollux only has four of its. Let the shuttle bus take the strain on this doortodoor guided tour that packs a whole bunch of sicily into just one day. It is one of the most outstanding examples of greater greece art and architecture, and is one of the main attractions of sicily as listed in 1997. The valley of the temples valle dei templi is a famous archaeological site in sicily housing some of the best preserved ancient greek ruins in the world, especially outside greece. Where agrigento and the valley of the temples are found today was the huge site of ancient akragas, a wealthy city of as many as 500,000 people and one of the most important in ancient greece. In agrigento, the valley of the temples is the largest archaeological site in the world and a designated unesco world heritage site. The valley of the temples in agrigento is a proof of that.
In 1997, the valley was declared a unesco world heritage site. The valley is found near the site of the ancient greek colony. It is one of those amazing places that you remember for a long time after visiting, so if you are trying to decide what to see in sicily, the valley of the temples should be on the top of your list. The valley of the temples in agrigento guide of valley of. The archaeological park and landscape of the valley of the temples is the largest archaeological site in the world with 1, 300 hectares. Agrigento the valley of the temples wonders of sicily. Oct 05, 2019 the best preserved temple in the valley of the temples.
Valle dei templi agrigento 2020 all you need to know. Some private guided tours can be booked online ain advance and may leave from your hotel in agrigento while others leave from the ticket office of the temple of. This is an italian language guide book for agrigento, a regional museum of architecture and history. Valle dei templi agrigento 2020 what to know before. Valley of the temples agrigento lumia case vacanze sicily. One of sicilys most famous historical attractions is without a doubt the valley of the temples, just outside agrigento. It is one of the most outstanding examples of greater greece book your guided visits to agrigento with rosa maria montalbano, authorized official guide of the valley of the temples, and with many years experience in italian. The valley is the largest archeological site in the world, covering 0 hectares of land, and characterized by its excellent state. The greek temples are fabulous and it is an easy, if quite long walk, with a drinkfood stop in the centre pricey. The impressive doric temples constitute one of the most important testaments to greek culture and art, and they tell us about the thousandyear old history which began in the sixth century b.