Why the Valley of the Temples should be on your Sicily itinerary
When you think of ruins in Italy, Roman is what springs to mind but tucked away on Sicily are temples that were there to worship the Greek gods!
Just like the Romans left their mark as far as Morocco, various coastal areas of southern Italy were once colonies of the city-states of ancient Greece; collectively, these were known as Great Greece) Culturally and linguistically, they were shaped and reflected the Greeks which is why are there lots of Greek temples in Sicily.
Temple of Concordia
Perched on a hill just outside the Sicilian city of Agrigento, you will find the Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi). This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a sprawling archaeological park, spanning a massive 1,300 hectares.
Situated on the dry arid hilltops overlooking the penetrating blues of the Mediterranean Sea, these iconic temples have stood strong in the face of the winds, the invasions, the wars, the eruptions, and the shifting plates and political fortunes of Sicily.
Large structures have stood the test of time
Some of the temples here date back to the 6th and 5th centuries BC and are in incredible condition. They are known as some of the best-preserved examples of this style outside of Greece itself.
The site at Agrigento is not a valley in fact, but a ridge, sitting 230 metres above sea level. The ancient temples stand looking majestically out to sea and the surrounding countryside, and as you drive around the area, you will spot sections of the ruins in the distance as if they are watching over you.
The area is dotted with temples
So, how to you get here to explore them? The good news is you don’t have to stay in Agrigento as the area is accessible. We stayed nearby at Maddalusa Beach just outside town so we could wake up to the sounds of the sea.
We hired a car as we were travelling around Sicily for about a week so access was easy, but you can also go by bus, train or tour from major cities like Palermo or Catania as a day trip.
Tickets are around $30 per person (€17).
The archaeological park consists of eight temples and various other relics, including the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Heracles, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple of Hephaestus and the Temple of Demeter.
Cactus dot the landscape
While we there, they were setting up to film a movie of some sort, so we couldn’t see the massive bronze statue of Icarus laying on the ground in front of the Temple of Concordia up close unfortunately.
All up, we spent around two hours exploring and walking around five kilometres. Reading information on the ruins as we went after deciding to self-guide following recent guided tours in both Rome and Pompeii.
Marked paths make it easy to navigate the Valley of the Temples
The route along the dusty path to all the temples and ruins is obvious, and quite well sign-posted so it would be quite difficult to get lost.
Opening hours are from 8.30am (early by Sicilian standards!) Closing time varies as it is extended during peak summer periods.
It wasn’t very crowded - even first thing in the morning.
We were there in the middle of September and do not recommend visiting in the middle of the day as there is very little shade as you wander around. No matter the season, take plenty of water with you – a refillable bottle is a good idea. In the park, they have a number of drinking water fountains, so you can easily fill up as you explore and stay hydrated!
