Agrigento's Valley of the Temples is an outstanding example of the Magna Graecia (Greater Greece) art and architecture, and one of the main attractions of Sicily. The area was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site List in 1997.
For this private tour with learned English-speaking driver able to provide general information about the sites, we will pick you up from your hotel or b&b with one of our vehicles: a big sedan, a 4x4 SUV or a minivan according to the availability and the number of people.
From Palermo, Agrigento is not far but there is no motorway so fasten your seatbelt and relax seeing the different landscapes as we drive South-Westward to arrive to what used to be one of the most important Greek colonies in Sicily.
You will visit the following temples, all in Doric style, whose names are a mere tradition established in Renaissance times:
- the Temple of Hera Lacinia built in the 5th century BCE and burnt in 406 BCE by the Carthaginians. It was usually used for the celebration of weddings;
- the Temple of Concordia, whose name comes from a Latin inscription found nearby, was also built in the 5th century BCE. Turned into a church in the 6th century CE, it is now the best preserved in the Valley;
- the Temple of Heracles, who was one of the most venerated deities in the ancient Akragas. It is the most ancient in the Valley, dating back to the 6th century BCE; destroyed by an earthquake, it consists today of only eight columns;
- the Temple of Olympian Zeus, built in 480 BCE to celebrate the city-state’s victory over Carthage. It is characterised by the use of large scale atlases;
- the Temple of the Dioscuri: Castor and Pollux. Built in 495 BCE, despite its remains including only four columns it is now the symbol of modern Agrigento.
If you like, you will also have time to visit the Garden of Kolymbetra (Greek word for a type of pool used in Roman times for water games), an archaeological site of great naturalistic and landscape relevance.
For those who really love archeological sites there is also a gift: we will show you three almost secret temples...
Why touring with Palermo Walks?
1. We have been awarded the patronages of the Sicilian Parliament and of the City of Palermo,
2. we provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee,
3. we provide a booklet with information about the sites,
4. our vehicles are checked every month,
5. you can always talk to one of our managers,
6. our drivers are Sicilians and able to tell you stories and history of Sicily to entertain you while driving,
7. we can customize the tour according to your needs, i.e. we can add a professional tour guide,
8. last but not least... we provide quality!
Book your private tour now to enjoy the best of Sicily!
Schedule:
- 7:30 Hotel or b&b pickup pick-up by car or minivan
- 10:00 Valley of the Temples
- 13:30 Lunch (not included)
- 15:00 Departure from the Valley of the Temples towards Palermo
- 17:30 Hotel or b&b drop-off