The first thing to know about the Valley of the Temples is that it is not technically a valley. The eight ancient Greek temples that make up this extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Site sit on a limestone ridge south of the modern city of Agrigento, looking out over the Mediterranean coast and the fields of the Sicilian interior. The name is poetic rather than geographical and it does not matter in the slightest, because what sits on that ridge is one of the most powerful archaeological sites in the world.
Akragas, the Greek city whose temples these are, was founded around 580 BC by settlers from Rhodes and Crete. By the 5th century BC it had grown into one of the wealthiest and most powerful cities in the ancient Mediterranean, with a population estimated between 200,000 and 800,000 people larger than most contemporary European cities today. The philosopher Empedocles was born here. The tyrant Theron built here. The temples that survive on the ridge, constructed between approximately 510 and 430 BC, are the physical record of that wealth and ambition. They were built to impress, and twenty-five centuries later they still do.
This guide covers everything you need to plan your visit: the history, the individual temples in detail, practical information on tickets and hours, the best time to visit, the Kolymbetra Garden, the Archaeological Museum and the guided tour options available from all parts of Sicily.
In this guide
- The city of Akragas a brief history
- The temples each one explained
- Temple of Concordia the masterpiece
- Temple of Zeus the unfinished colossus
- The Kolymbetra Garden
- The Archaeological Museum
- Tickets, opening hours and practical information
- Best time to visit
- Guided tours
- How to combine your visit
- Frequently asked questions
Valley of the Temples quick facts
- UNESCO status: World Heritage Site since 1997
- Location: Contrada Maddalusa, 92100 Agrigento, Sicily
- Tickets (2025): €17 adults; €10 reduced (EU citizens 18 to 25); free on the first Sunday of each month
- Combined ticket with museum and Kolymbetra Garden: approximately €19.80
- Opening hours: vary seasonally approximately 10am to 4pm in winter, 10am to 8pm in summer
- Time needed: 2 to 4 hours for the park; half a day with the museum
- From Palermo: 130 km, approximately 2 hours by car
- From Catania: 150 km, approximately 2 hours by car
- From Syracuse: 175 km, approximately 2 hours 15 minutes by car
The city of Akragas a brief history
Akragas was founded around 580 BC by Greek colonists from Gela, themselves descended from settlers from Rhodes and Crete who had arrived in Sicily a century earlier. The site was chosen with strategic intelligence: a high plateau flanked by two rivers, the Hypsas and the Akragas, with the ridge to the south forming a natural defensive wall on which the temples would be built, visible to approaching ships from miles out at sea. The combination of fertile agricultural land, navigable rivers and a commanding defensive position made Akragas one of the fastest-growing cities in the ancient world.
The 5th century BC was the golden age of Akragas. Under the tyrants Theron and his successors, the city accumulated extraordinary wealth from agriculture, ceramics and the slave trade, and channelled it into the construction of the temples on the southern ridge. The philosopher Empedocles, who proposed the theory of the four elements (earth, air, fire and water) as the building blocks of all matter, was born here around 490 BC. Ancient writers described the citizens of Akragas as people who “ate as if they were to die tomorrow and built as if they were to live forever.”
The golden age ended abruptly in 406 BC when a Carthaginian army under Hannibal Mago besieged the city and, after an eight-month siege, sacked it completely. The temples on the southern ridge were looted and several were destroyed or damaged. The city never fully recovered its former glory, passing through Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab and Norman hands over the following centuries, each layer of occupation leaving traces that are still visible in the archaeological record today.
The name “Valley of the Temples” appears for the first time in the Renaissance, when the Sicilian historian Tommaso Fazello mapped and described the ruins. The individual temple names Concordia, Juno, Heracles, Zeus are mostly Renaissance attributions based on nearby inscriptions and architectural features rather than definitive ancient identifications. Only the Temple of Zeus has a securely documented dedication, commemorating the Greek victory over Carthage at the Battle of Himera in 480 BC.
The temples each one explained
The archaeological park covers approximately 1,300 hectares and contains the remains of eight temples, city walls, gates, necropolises, an underground aqueduct system and various other structures. The main visiting circuit follows the Via Sacra, the ancient sacred road that connected the temples along the ridge, running west from the Temple of Juno to the western zone. Most visitors complete this route in 2 to 3 hours at a comfortable pace.
Temple of Juno (Giunone / Hera Lacinia) Built around 450 BC at the eastern end of the ridge, this was the temple approached by worshippers arriving from the city above. Twenty-five of its original 34 columns still stand, some still bearing traces of the fire damage inflicted during the Carthaginian sack of 406 BC. The traces of burning on the eastern columns are among the most direct physical records of the destruction of Akragas visible anywhere in the park.
Temple of Concordia The finest temple in the park and one of the finest surviving Greek temples anywhere in the world. See the dedicated section below for full details.
Temple of Heracles (Ercole) The oldest temple in the valley, dating to approximately 510 BC. Of its original 38 columns only eight remain standing, re-erected in the 1920s by a British archaeologist. The fallen columns give the temple a romantic ruin quality that the more intact structures lack it is worth pausing here to appreciate the scale of what these buildings actually were before the centuries of earthquake, looting and lime-burning reduced them to their current state.
Temple of Zeus (Olimpico) See the dedicated section below.
Temple of the Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux) The iconic image of Agrigento: four columns with fragments of entablature, silhouetted against the sky. These columns are technically a modern reconstruction from fragments of at least three different temples, assembled in the 19th century for visual effect. The reconstructed corner is more symbol than archaeological reality, but it photographs extraordinarily well, particularly at sunset.
Temple of Hephaestus and Temple of Demeter Two further temples in the western zone, less visited and less preserved than the main circuit temples but worth including for those with extra time.
Temple of Concordia the masterpiece
The Temple of Concordia, built between approximately 440 and 430 BC, is the centrepiece of the Valley of the Temples and one of the most complete ancient Greek temples surviving anywhere in the world. Its 34 Doric columns, standing to their full height of 6.75 metres on a platform measuring 39.4 by 16.9 metres, rise from the ridge in a state of preservation that seems almost miraculous given the 2,500 years that have passed since they were erected.
The survival of the Temple of Concordia is not miraculous it is the result of an act of religious pragmatism. In the 6th century AD, the Bishop of Agrigento, Gregory of Agrigento, converted the pagan temple into a Christian basilica dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. To make the interior usable as a church, the spaces between the columns were filled with walling, the cella walls were cut into a series of arches to create a nave and aisles, and the orientation of the building was reversed so that it faced west (Christian east) rather than east (Greek east). These modifications preserved the structure through the centuries when most pagan buildings were being demolished for their stone. The Christian alterations were partially removed during restoration work in the 18th century, restoring something closer to the temple’s classical form, but the arched windows cut through the cella walls remain and are visible from inside.
The name “Concordia” was assigned in the Renaissance by Tommaso Fazello, who found a nearby Roman inscription mentioning the goddess Concordia. The inscription has no proven connection to the temple, whose actual ancient dedication remains unknown.
The Temple of Concordia is the image chosen as the official logo of UNESCO a recognition that needs no further explanation. It is best experienced in the late afternoon, when the golden light of the Sicilian sun strikes the columns directly and turns the limestone from pale cream to deep amber. Allow time to walk completely around the temple, examining the columns from each angle and noticing the subtle optical refinements of the Doric order the very slight swelling of the column shafts (entasis), the barely perceptible curvature of the stylobate that prevent the rigid geometry from feeling mechanical.
The statue of Icarus by Igor Mitoraj, a modern bronze sculpture of the fallen hero lying broken-winged before the temple, has been a fixture in the park since the 1980s and has become one of the most photographed images at the site. Whether it belongs in a Greek archaeological park is debatable; that it works as a visual and mythological counterpoint to the intact columns above it is undeniable.
Temple of Zeus the unfinished colossus
The Temple of Olympian Zeus (Tempio di Giove Olimpico) in the western zone of the park was, if it had been completed, the largest Doric temple ever built in the ancient world. Its dimensions were extraordinary: 113 metres long, 56 metres wide, with columns that would have risen to a height of approximately 20 metres. It was begun around 480 BC to celebrate the Greek victory over Carthage at the Battle of Himera, one of the most significant military events in the history of ancient Sicily.
The temple was never finished. The exact reason is not known, but the fall of Akragas to the Carthaginians in 406 BC interrupted construction before the building was complete, and subsequent earthquakes and centuries of stone robbing reduced what had been built to the vast field of rubble visible today. What survives above ground is mostly fallen masonry, but the scale of the project is still legible in the sheer quantity of stone scattered across the site.
The most famous feature of the Temple of Zeus was the Telamoni colossal male figures approximately 7.65 metres tall that served as supporting columns between the half-columns of the outer wall, their arms raised above their heads to bear the weight of the entablature. They represented the enemies of Zeus, both literally and symbolically carrying the burden of divine power on their shoulders. One reconstructed Telamon lies flat on the ground in the western zone, allowing visitors to understand the scale of these figures. The original fragments are preserved in the Pietro Griffo Archaeological Museum in Agrigento.
The Kolymbetra Garden
Between the Temple of Zeus and the Temple of the Dioscuri, the Giardino della Kolymbetra occupies a natural depression in the ridge that was, in ancient times, a large artificial pool created by Carthaginian prisoners after the Battle of Himera. The pool served as a fish farm and as the source of the underground aqueduct system that supplied the ancient city. Over the subsequent centuries it silted up, was converted to agriculture, and eventually fell into neglect.
The Kolymbetra Garden was restored by the FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano, the Italian equivalent of the National Trust) beginning in 1999 and is now one of the most beautiful and unexpected spaces in the entire archaeological park: a lush, shaded garden of citrus trees, almond and carob, pomegranate and ancient olives, with flowering plants and a small stream, all enclosed within the ancient depression and framed by the limestone walls of the ridge above. After several hours walking in the heat and sun of the open archaeological site, the Kolymbetra Garden is a revelation of cool shade and botanical abundance.
The garden is included in the combined ticket (approximately €19.80 with the park and museum) or available separately for a small additional fee. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. An 800-year-old olive tree growing near the Byzantine tombs at the garden’s edge is one of the most ancient living plants in the archaeological park.
The Archaeological Museum
The Museo Archeologico Regionale Pietro Griffo, located just outside the main archaeological park entrance on the road to Agrigento, is one of the finest regional archaeological museums in Sicily and an essential complement to the visit. Its collection covers the full history of Akragas from the prehistoric period through the Greek, Carthaginian, Roman and Byzantine occupations, with particular strength in the Greek material from the temples themselves.
The museum’s highlights include the reconstructed Telamon from the Temple of Zeus (the only complete reconstruction of this extraordinary figure), a celebrated collection of Greek red-figure and black-figure pottery, bronze sculptures and votive offerings from the temple deposits, and the epigraphic collection that documents the city’s political and religious life. The museum also covers the broader Agrigento province, with material from the Greek colony of Selinunte and the necropolis sites of the surrounding hills.
The combined ticket (archaeological park plus museum) costs approximately €19.80 and represents significantly better value than buying the two tickets separately. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for a thorough visit to the museum.
Tickets, opening hours and practical information
Tickets (2025):
- Archaeological park only: €17 adults; €10 reduced (EU citizens 18 to 25 with ID)
- Combined park plus museum: approximately €19.80
- Combined park, museum and Kolymbetra Garden: approximately €19.80 to €22
- Free entry: first Sunday of each month for all visitors
- Children under 18: free
Advance online booking is strongly recommended from April through September. The park has multiple ticket offices at the Temple of Juno entrance (eastern side), Porta V (western side) and the Teatro Ellenistico entrance near the museum. Arriving at the Temple of Juno and walking west along the Via Sacra is the recommended approach, as it follows the ancient sacred processional route and positions you to end near the museum and the Kolymbetra Garden.
Opening hours vary significantly by season. The park is open year-round. Winter hours (November to February) run approximately 10am to 4pm. Summer hours (July to August) extend to 8pm. Evening and sunset visits are available during the summer months and are among the finest experiences at the site. Check the official website (lavalledeitempli.it) for current hours before visiting, as they change seasonally and for special events.
Getting there: From Palermo, approximately 130 km via the SS189 and SS115 (2 hours). From Catania, approximately 150 km (2 hours). From Syracuse, approximately 175 km (2 hours 15 minutes). By train from Palermo (Centrale) or Catania, direct services to Agrigento Centrale run several times daily; from the station, local buses (lines 1, 2 and 3) reach the park entrance. By car, follow signs for Valle dei Templi from the SS115; the main car parks are at the Sant’Anna entrance near the Temple of Juno and at Porta V on the western side.
Practical notes: The park covers significant distances on uneven ground in full sun. Bring water, sunscreen and a hat. Wear comfortable shoes with grip. In July and August, avoid the midday hours (11am to 3pm) when temperatures regularly exceed 35°C arrive at opening or in the late afternoon for the most comfortable and photogenic experience. A shuttle bus operates within the site for visitors with mobility limitations.
Best time to visit
April, May and October are the finest months for visiting the Valley of the Temples. The light is excellent, temperatures are comfortable for several hours of walking in the open sun, the almond trees (which cover the hillsides between the temples) are either in blossom in February or fruiting in autumn, and the tourist crowds are manageable rather than overwhelming.
The sunset visit in summer, when the temples are illuminated as the sun descends over the ridge and the limestone turns amber and then rose, is one of the most beautiful experiences at the site. Evening visits are available during the summer months with separate booking if you are visiting in July or August, planning a sunset or early evening visit rather than a midday one will transform your experience.
February is a hidden gem of a month to visit: the almond trees in full blossom cover the slopes between the temples in white and pale pink, creating a landscape of extraordinary beauty that has been celebrated in Sicilian poetry and painting for centuries. The Mandorlo in Fiore folk festival in February fills the site with music and cultural events. Read our complete guide to the best time to visit Sicily for the full seasonal picture.
Guided tours
The Valley of the Temples is one of the most historically dense sites in Sicily, and a knowledgeable guide transforms a walk among impressive ruins into a genuine encounter with the ancient world. The individual temples require context understanding which are correctly identified, which are Renaissance guesses, how the Temple of Concordia was saved by becoming a church, what the Telamoni of the Temple of Zeus actually represented to yield their full significance.
Valley of the Temples guided tour with skip-the-line entry
A guided walk along the Via Sacra with an expert archaeologist or licensed guide, covering the Temple of Concordia, Temple of Zeus, the Kolymbetra Garden and the history of ancient Akragas. Available in English, small groups, 2 to 3 hours.
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Valley of the Temples sunset and evening tour
Visit the temples in the cooler evening hours as the limestone turns gold at sunset, with illuminated temples after dark. One of the most atmospheric experiences at the site, available in summer. Guide included.
👉 SEE THE BEST Valley of the Temples sunset and evening tour HERE
Valley of the Temples day trip from Palermo
A guided full-day excursion from Palermo to Agrigento, including transport, skip-the-line entry and a guided tour of the main temples. Often combined with a stop at the Scala dei Turchi on the return journey.
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How to combine your visit
The Valley of the Temples sits on the southern coast of Sicily, approximately midway between Palermo and the southeastern corner of the island, making it a natural inclusion on any road trip circuit. Several combinations work particularly well.
Valley of the Temples plus Scala dei Turchi: The Scala dei Turchi, a white limestone staircase descending to the sea near the town of Realmonte, is approximately 30 kilometres west of Agrigento and is one of the most spectacular natural landscapes on the southern coast. Combining the two in a single day from either Palermo or the southeastern towns is one of the most rewarding day circuits in Sicily.
Valley of the Temples plus Selinunte: The Greek archaeological site of Selinunte, approximately 90 kilometres west of Agrigento via the SS115, is the largest Greek archaeological park in the world by area and contains five partially standing temples in a landscape of wild herbs and sea views. Less visited and less organised than Agrigento, it provides a fascinating contrast. A full day is needed for both sites.
From Palermo: The Valley of the Temples is a 130-kilometre drive from Palermo, approximately 2 hours via the SS189. It features prominently in our day trips from Palermo guide and in our complete Sicily road trip guide.
From the southeast: Visitors based in Syracuse, Noto or Ragusa can reach Agrigento in approximately 2 hours via the SS115 along the southern coast one of the most scenic coastal roads in Sicily. Read our guides to things to do in Agrigento, Noto and Ragusa for planning this circuit. For the full island, read our Sicily 7-day itinerary.
Book your Sicily rental car
Compare prices across all major car hire companies in Sicily, including Palermo and Catania airports, and book in advance to get the best rates. Always select full coverage (zero excess) when booking in Sicily.
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Frequently asked questions about the Valley of the Temples
Is the Valley of the Temples worth visiting?
Yes, without qualification. The Valley of the Temples is one of the most important and most beautiful archaeological sites in the world not just in Sicily. The Temple of Concordia alone, with 34 columns standing to full height after 2,500 years, justifies the visit. Even visitors with limited interest in ancient history find the scale, the landscape and the quality of what survives genuinely moving.
How long do you need at the Valley of the Temples?
Minimum 2 hours for the main temple circuit at a brisk pace. 3 to 4 hours for a thorough visit including the Kolymbetra Garden. Half a day for the full experience including the Archaeological Museum. A full day is comfortable and allows time for the museum, the garden, lunch in Agrigento and a visit to the Scala dei Turchi on the way back.
What is the best temple in the Valley of the Temples?
The Temple of Concordia is the finest and most complete. Its 34 Doric columns standing to full height, its extraordinary state of preservation and its role as the UNESCO logo make it the defining experience of the site. The Temple of Zeus, even in ruins, is the most intellectually fascinating the scale of what was attempted and the story of why it was never finished are as compelling as any standing building.
Is the Valley of the Temples free on Sundays?
Yes, on the first Sunday of each month, entry to the archaeological park is free for all visitors regardless of age or nationality. This makes the first Sunday an excellent option for budget-conscious visitors, though it is also the busiest day of the month. Arrive at opening time to avoid queues.
Can you visit the Valley of the Temples independently?
Yes. The site is well-signposted and there are information panels at each temple. An audio guide (available for hire at the entrance) provides good coverage of the main temples. However, a guided tour adds significant depth to the visit the history of Akragas, the identifications of the individual temples, the story of how the Temple of Concordia survived, and the significance of the Telamoni are all considerably richer with expert commentary.
What is the best time of day to visit the Valley of the Temples?
Early morning (at opening time) for the most comfortable temperatures and the most favourable light from the east. Late afternoon for the famous golden-hour light on the Temple of Concordia. Avoid midday in July and August when temperatures regularly exceed 35°C on the open ridge. Evening and sunset visits in summer are available with separate booking and are among the finest experiences at the site.
One of the wonders of the ancient world
The ancient writer Pindar called Akragas “the most beautiful city of mortals.” Standing on the ridge between the Temple of Juno and the Temple of Concordia, looking south across the Sicilian coast to the Mediterranean and north across the hills to the modern city above, it is not difficult to understand what he meant. The temples are extraordinary, but the landscape they inhabit is equally extraordinary a limestone ridge above the sea, with the remains of a city that was once among the greatest in the ancient world, now given back to the wind and the almond blossoms and the long Sicilian light.
For help planning the rest of your Sicily trip, read our complete guides to things to do in Agrigento, our Sicily road trip guide and our Sicily 7-day itinerary.
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