Valley of the Temples hosted Open Day on 22 September
Published on 09/27/2026 at 12:40 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Valley of the Temples and its Open Day brought visitors into the Ceramico excavations in Agrigento on 22 September 2026 (Valle dei Templi). The archaeological area west of Porta V revealed a working research zone connected with the ancient city.
The event was a rare opportunity to see an excavation area beyond the best-known Doric temples. Students and young researchers explained structures and finds from the recent campaigns while guiding visitors through the site.
Open Day opened the Ceramico excavations on 22 September
The Archaeological and Landscape Park of the Valley of the Temples held the Open Day on Tuesday 22 September 2026. The programme focused on the Ceramico area, a sector west of Porta V where excavations have been examining an ancient production quarter.
The Rai News report on the Open Day said the excavated area contains evidence from the Archaic and Classical periods. Its account also described the involvement of students and young researchers, who presented the structures and materials brought to light during the investigations.
The discovery has a practical significance for visitors: the Open Day connected the public with the archaeological work itself rather than only with completed monuments. That link made the Ceramico relevant to the wider history of the ancient settlement, where craft production supported daily life alongside religious and civic buildings.
How the Ceramico adds context to the ancient city
The Ceramico sits within the archaeological area of ancient Agrigento, the Greek colony that UNESCO places in the sixth century BCE. The World Heritage body describes the site as extending across the ancient polis, from Rupe Atenea and the acropolis to the sacred hill and the extramural necropolis.
The area is known for its Doric temples, but UNESCO also identifies later Hellenistic and Roman remains and evidence of early Christian burial practices. The Open Day therefore placed a production district beside a much broader archaeological landscape. The UNESCO description of Agrigento records the site's World Heritage inscription in 1997 and its importance for the preservation of a Greek colonial settlement.
The excavation area also reflects the continuing role of research at the site. According to the event report, recent investigations identified large furnaces associated with ceramic production, alongside structures and other evidence connected with the ancient community.
Visiting Valley of the Temples: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Open Day took place on 22 September 2026 in the Ceramico area of the Archaeological and Landscape Park, west of Porta V.
- The special access applied to the excavation area during that event. The guided presentation by students and young researchers was tied to 22 September 2026, so it should not be treated as a permanent visitor arrangement.
- The archaeological area is in Agrigento on Sicily's southern coast. The Ceramico's position west of Porta V is the key location detail for understanding where the Open Day was held.
- The site combines archaeological remains with open landscape, including temple ruins, excavated areas and burial evidence. Visitors should expect an outdoor heritage setting rather than a single enclosed museum building.
- Italian is the official language and the currency is the euro.
Searching for Valley of the Temples on social platforms
These links open searches for Valley of the Temples on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Valley of the Temples
When did the Open Day take place at the Valley of the Temples?
The Open Day took place on 22 September 2026 in the Ceramico area, west of Porta V.
What is the Valley of the Temples?
It is the archaeological area of ancient Agrigento, a Greek colony founded in the sixth century BCE and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997.
Where is the Valley of the Temples and how do you get there?
The archaeological area is on Sicily's southern coast in Agrigento. The Open Day's Ceramico area was west of Porta V.
