Valle dei Templi and the Doric skyline of Agrigento
Published on 08/24/2026 at 10:55 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Valle dei Templi in Agrigento is a broad archaeological landscape on Sicily’s southern coast, where Doric temples rise above fields and orchards. Founded as a Greek colony in the sixth century BCE, Agrigento still gives the site its layered historical frame.
Doric temples above the ancient city
The most arresting feature is the line of temple ruins, set on a sacred hill above the ancient town. The UNESCO-listed archaeological area of Agrigento spans the Rupe Atenea, the acropolis, the sacred hill and the extramural necropolis, so the landscape reads as more than a temple park. Archaeological Area of Agrigento
The Temple of Concordia is the name most visitors associate with the site, and its Doric profile remains one of the clearest in Sicily. The wider setting also includes later Hellenistic and Roman remains, which extend the story beyond the best-known monuments. Temple of Concordia
A landscape shaped by Greek Agrigento
Valle dei Templi preserves the monumental heritage of Akragas, the Greek colony that became Agrigento after the Roman conquest in 210 BC. That ancient city survived here in enough depth to make the site a rare meeting of temple remains, urban traces and burial ground.
The park’s official history places the foundation of Akragas in 580 BC under Geloi, and the temples were later joined by Roman-period remains and underground funerary areas. The result is a place where the ancient polis is still legible in the land itself. Akragas and Agrigentum
What the park shows at ground level
The park covers a long archaeological corridor rather than a single enclosure, and the terrain shifts between low hill, ruined precincts and open land. That scale gives the visitor a clear sense of how closely the temples, the city and the surrounding landscape were connected.
The site is also known for conservation that keeps the ancient topography readable, with excavated areas set beside unexcavated ground. UNESCO describes the area as a preserved ancient polis whose principal Doric temples dominate the old city.
Visiting Valle dei Templi: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Valle dei Templi lies in Agrigento on the southern coast of Sicily, reached through the city and the archaeological park area. The name Agrigento is the modern form of ancient Akragas.
- The site covers a broad archaeological landscape on a hill and in open ground. Expect uneven terrain and long stretches between major remains.
- The best-known monuments are Doric temples, especially the Temple of Concordia. The wider park also includes necropolis areas and Roman-period traces.
- The official language is Italian and the currency is the euro.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Valle dei Templi on social platforms
These links open searches for Valle dei Templi on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Valle dei Templi
Where is Valle dei Templi?
It is in Agrigento, on the southern coast of Sicily. The archaeological area belongs to the ancient city of Akragas.
What does a visit involve?
The site combines temple ruins, ancient city traces and burial areas across open terrain. The main monuments stand on a broad archaeological landscape rather than in a compact urban block.
What makes Valle dei Templi distinctive?
Its Doric temples stand within a preserved ancient landscape tied to Greek Agrigento. The Temple of Concordia is the clearest single monument, but the whole area carries the wider shape of the old polis.
