The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world — the richest and best-preserved group of ancient Greek temples outside Greece, standing in golden sandstone splendour on a ridge overlooking the Mediterranean in southern Sicily. A UNESCO World Heritage site and the crown jewel of Magna Graecia, Agrigento’s Doric temples — particularly the near-intact Temple of Concordia — rank alongside the Parthenon in Athens as the finest surviving examples of classical Greek temple architecture on the planet.

Quick Facts: Valley of the Temples, Agrigento, Sicily

• Best time to visit: Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–October) for pleasant temperatures; visit early morning or late afternoon for the best light and to avoid the midday heat
• Top attraction: The Temple of Concordia — one of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world, converted into a Christian basilica in the 6th century
• How to get there: ~2 hours from Palermo by car; ~2 hours from Catania; Agrigento Centrale train station is a short bus ride from the archaeological park
• Entry fee: ~€12 (adult); combined ticket with the Archaeological Museum ~€18
• Best for: History lovers, archaeology enthusiasts, photographers, and anyone captivated by ancient civilisations

A Greek City in Sicily

Founded as Akragas by Greek colonists from Gela and Rhodes around 580 BC, the city became one of the largest and wealthiest in the Greek world — the philosopher Empedocles was born here, and the poet Pindar described it as “the most beautiful city of mortals.” At its height in the 5th century BC, Akragas had a population of up to 200,000 and was famed for its monumental Doric temples built along a dramatic ridge facing the sea.

The archaeological park contains the remains of seven major temples erected between 510 and 430 BC, plus numerous smaller sanctuaries, necropolises, and fragments of the ancient city walls. The Temple of Hercules, the oldest of the group, dates to around 510 BC. The Temple of Olympian Zeus — the largest Doric temple ever built (113m × 56m) — was never completed before the Carthaginian sack of 406 BC and now lies in ruins, with its colossal 7.5-metre telamons (stone giants) scattered on the ground.

Archaeological Area of Agrigento is located in Sicily, Italy. It lies on the southern coast, near the city of Agrigento. The place is also called Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi). This is the most impressive ancient Greek site outside of Greece.

Agrigento Greek colony was founded in the 6th century BC but already in 406 BC the town was destroyed by the Carthaginians. Until now there are still well-preserved ruins of ancient town.

The local archaeological area of Agrigento is the richest group of well-preserved Greek temples in the world. You can find here the remains of buildings from the later Hellenistic and Roman periods.

Since 1997, the archaeological area of Agrigento is registered on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

View Agrigento – the richest group of well-preserved Greek temples in the world Sicily, Italy in a larger map

Have you walked through the Valley of the Temples at sunset or explored Sicily’s Greek heritage? Share your favourite ancient sites in the comments! 🏛️

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