Valley of the Temples

A ridge

It is called a valley, but it is a ridge

The Valle dei Templi is an archaeological site in Agrigento, the ancient Greek city of Akragas. The word valley is a misnomer, because the site is on a ridge outside the town. It has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997, and with 1300 hectares it is the largest archaeological park in Europe and the Mediterranean basin.

1300hectares, the largest archaeological park in Europe

Seven temples

Seven temples stand here, and their names are mostly guesses

The valley holds the remains of seven temples, all in the Doric style. Except for that of the Olympeion, the names given to them are merely a tradition established in Renaissance times. The temples are those of Concordia, Hera, Heracles, Olympian Zeus, Castor and Pollux, Hephaestus and Asclepius.

Concordia

The Temple of Concordia survived because it became a church

The Temple of Concordia was built in the 5th century BC. Its name comes from a Latin inscription found nearby. It was turned into a church in the 6th century AD, and today it is one of the best preserved temples in the valley. The UNESCO symbol alludes to its six-column façade. When it became a church, the pagan altar was destroyed and 12 arched openings were cut into the cella.

The other temples

A temple to Zeus celebrated a victory over Carthage in 480 BC

The Temple of Olympian Zeus was built in 480 BC to celebrate the city's victory over Carthage, and is characterized by large-scale atlases. The Temple of Hera, from about 450 BC, was burned in 406 BC by the Carthaginians. The Temple of Heracles is the most ancient in the valley, and an earthquake left only eight columns. The four columns of the Temple of Castor and Pollux are now the symbol of modern Agrigento.