The Valley of the Temples, Agrigento, is Sicily’s most prominent archaeological park. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 and still today remains one of the main historical attractions for both tourists and locals.
The site features eight Greek temples built during the 6th and 5th century BC: the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Heracles, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple of Hephaestos, the Temple of Demeter, and the Temple of Asclepius.
Valley of the Temples, Sicily, Short History
The Valley of the Temples sits on the ancient colony of Akragas that was founded by the Greeks in 580 BC. In the 5th century, the town enjoyed a population of about 200,000 and was a great centre of democratic life.
However, In 406 BC Akragas was completely razed by the Carthaginians until the Romans took control of it in 210 BC. Later on, the unfortunate fate of this town fell on the hands of the Arabs and then the Normans.
After long works to recover the remains of Akragas, the archaeological site was established and, although it is yet to be finished, it became a flourishing testimony of the history of Agrigento.
The Valley of the Temples Hours
The opening hours of the Valley of the Temples vary depending on the part of the site you want to visit.
The Hill of the Temples is opened everyday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Temple of Zeus, the Sanctuary of Chthonian deities and the Temple of Dioscuri is opened everyday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Archaeological Regional Museum “P. Griffo” San Nicola in the Valley of the Temples is opened Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays and Mondays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.