Location: Agrigento
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Things to do in Agrigento, Sicily: The Best Ancient Ruins
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. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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”.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Eraclea Minoa
8. Tomba di Terone
9. Early Christian Necropolis Of Agrigento
10. Tempio di Vulcano o Efesto
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