Location: Agrigento
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The 10 Best Sights & Landmarks in Agrigento, Sicily
Though Agrigento is a modern city of about 60,000 on Sicily’s southwest coast, the majority of visitors come to experience the past just outside of town. At the Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi), citizens of the then-major Greek colony of Akragras began building seven Doric style holy monuments in the sixth century BC. The nearby Archaeological Museum helps put everything into context. Agrigento also has some fascinating sights in its old town, like the medieval Norman cathedral.
Restaurants in Agrigento
1. Tempio della Concordia
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,544 reviews
Built in 430 BC, this is one of the best-preserved Greek Temples located outside of Greece.
Reviewed By VadimM67 - Murmansk, Russia
The name of the temple we owe it due to one of the first Sicilian historians Tommaso Fazello. However, to whom this temple was actually dedicated, we don`t know until now. The sad state of the neighbors in the valley suggests that the temple of Concordia had to go through a lot to remain in the beautiful form as it is now. Along with the Parthenon, it is the best-preserved Doric temple in the world. It was necessary to survive the capture of Acragas by the Carthaginians in 406, the first and second Punic wars in the third century BC, the barbarian invasions in the fifth century AD, and the endless wars in Sicily in the middle ages. And, finally, it was necessary to protect themselves from the locals, who pulled apart almost all of ancient Rome. They were more danderous for antique temple than the barbarians. Concordia was lucky here. It was called the Church and it protected from encroachments of fans to get hold of antique building materials. Exactly the same saved the Pantheon in Rome. The Concordia temple is beautiful. From all sides. At any time of the day. In the evening, it is illuminated, but I didn`t go here a second time.
2. Ipogeo Kolymbethra-Porta V
3. Valle dei Templi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17,409 reviews
This region is one of the most important archeological sites in the world with many great temples such as Hera (Juno,) Lacinia, Concordia, Heracles (Hercules) and Olympian Zeus (Jupiter,) all dramatically perched along a long rocky scarp.
Reviewed By alikarim - Dallas, United States
This is an extremely well preserved set of ancient Greek temples that you can visit over a mile long walk. Best thing to do is to park yoru car at the bottom of the valley; at the exit of the site. Then take a local taxi (3 Euros/person) to the top of the site, the main entrance, where fro about an entrance fee of $13.50; you can start at the top temple and walk leisurely down to the bottom sites, exploding multiple temples and ruins in great shape. Lots of tourists here, but well worth the visit. It will take several hours to complete this, so plan for a min half day here. A must do in Sicily.
4. Tempio di Ercole
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 572 reviews
Temporarily Closed until April 3, 2020 Built to honor the god Hercules in the early 6th century, this is Agrigento's oldest temple that was constructed over a structure of 38 columns, of which only eight are still standing.
Reviewed By 27Ruben27 - San Juan, Caribbean
Ruins of Tempio di Ercole located in Valley of the Temples, Agrigento, Italy. Amazing ruins all located in the same site. A must in your visit to Agrigento.
5. Viale della Vittoria
6. Campobello di Licata
7. Tempio di Giunone
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 646 reviews
Reviewed By israroz - Ra'anana, Israel
If you arrive from the parking lot on the Temple Valley internal shuttle, you will reach the upper entrance and immediately after the gate, one of the most beautiful temples will appear to your right. Tempio Di Giunone, the Temple of the Goddess Hera. Because this temple is located at the top of the hill, it is a vantage point for the stunning views in every direction. Stunning temple "NOT 2 B MISSED”.
8. Tempio di Giove Olimpico
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 257 reviews
Reviewed By cmbtraveller - Canada, null
According to the information at the site this temple was 60X100m! Simply boggles the mind that something that massive (a little bigger than an American football field) could have been conceived, let alone built in that time. There's a scale model in the museum that will give you a sense of its scale.
9. Tempio dei Dioscuri
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 369 reviews
Temporarily Closed
Reviewed By haohuangpianist - Claremont, United States
Exquisite architecture, meticulously restored, the details and proportions are so beautiful. Breathtaking temple, the sacredness of the place sings despite the hordes of tourists (many European!). Surely us moderns can't build any better... humbling and transcendent.
10. Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Greci
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 271 reviews
Reviewed By niki101 - London, United Kingdom
The history of the building starts in the 5th century BC when on the same site was built a Greek temple dedicated to Athena. It was pretty emotional to see the survived columns from the Greek temple incorporated into the walls through the glass floor, and even to touch them in the underground tunnel in the flower-filled courtyard. At one point, during the Norman times, the church became the cathedral of the city, while at the same time the Normans were building San Gerlando’s Cathedral not far away. The frescoes go back to 15th century and show images of Mary’s life. Despite being damaged they are still beautiful. A young woman was there to give me some information about the church in English. She also explained about the entrances: the current entrance of the church is on the west side but as a temple, the entrance was on the east side. Thank you! To reach the church was an amazing experience itself. Tucked away in the old top part of Agrigento, we had to stroll in the charming maze of narrow streets with hundred steep steps and courtyards. I didn’t mind to get lost around for hours. During our visit, meeting some of the locals was a rare event but it was a great joy walking among some of their old charming houses and colourful streets. After seeing so much rubbish everywhere in Agrigento, people here really deserve some respect for trying to keep their streets clean and fresh. The church has opening hours so I had to return to be able to visit. Enjoy it!
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