Sicily History: The Valley of the Temples

The Valley of the Temples in Sicily’s Province of Agrigento is a stunning archaeological site adorned with ancient Greek temples.

This renowned archaeological area has seen numerous excavations take place over the years as new areas have been uncovered. As the archaeological area of Agrigento continues to expand, there has been a noteworthy increase in visitors. Since the beginning of the year, there has been a 24.6% increase in visitors when compared to 2016.

Thus far in 2017 the Valley of the Temples has welcomed around 700,000 visitors. By the end of October 2017, the number of visitors reached 818,000. Currently, park management estimates the number of visitors to be around 850,000 by the end of the year. This is surely a nod to the fascinating and unique attractions that can be found in Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples – a must-see attraction if you are visiting Sicily in 2018.

About the Valley of the Temples

In Sicily, Agrigento is renowned for its number of ancient historical artefacts. The most famous of all the sites is the Valley of Temples. This Italian UNESCO World Heritage Site shares its fascinating history with Greek culture as the Valley is home to the great temples of ancient Greece, who once ruled in Sicily. Today, these towering monuments stand as one of the top attractions in Sicily.

As excavations and archaeological research continue, the archaeological area of Agrigento continues to expand, with new discoveries made regularly. To date, the archaeological area has eight temples, along with several smaller ancient remains. Evidence indicates that much of the ancient temples uncovered here were built around 510 and 430 BC. The eight temples that have been discovered are:

• The Temple of Asclepius
• The Temple of Castor and Pollux
• The Temple of Demeter
• The Temple of Hera
• The Temple of Heracles
• The Temple of Olympian Zeus
• The Temple of Hephaestus
• The Temple of Concordia

There is also a fascinating archaeological museum on the site, where you can learn more about the temples, their history and what experts know about their construction.

Each of these temples and the museum can be enjoyed on a Valley of the Temples walking tour, which is available to add to any of our customised Sicily package holidays. So, if you’d like to travel to Sicily to see the archaeological site of Agrigento, check out our wide selection of Sicily holidays, including our popular Agrigento and Palermo twin-centre holiday.

For a free personalised holiday quotation, click here to send an online enquiry form or call us directly on 01223 637331.