The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is Europe's largest archaeological park (1,300 hectares) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. It houses ten Doric temples from the 5th century BC, among the best preserved in the world, built by the ancient Greek colony of Akragas. Don't miss the Temple of Concordia, the most intact along with the Parthenon, the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Hercules, and the imposing Temple of Olympian Zeus with the Telamons. It can be visited on foot or by shuttle bus, and is magical at sunset and at night.
The Temple of Concordia is the jewel of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, built around 440 BC in Doric style. It is the best-preserved Greek temple in the Mediterranean, along with the Parthenon in Athens and the Temple of Hephaestus, thanks to its conversion into a Christian church in the 6th century. Thirty-four perfectly intact Doric columns, the naos, and the architrave are intact. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it is best admired at sunset when the limestone turns golden. An icon of Greek Agrigento.
The Scala dei Turchi (Turkish Steps) is a spectacular white marl cliff shaped like a natural staircase, overlooking the turquoise sea of Realmonte, 15 km from Agrigento. Its name derives from the Saracen landings in the Middle Ages. The white rocks, shaped by wind and sea, contrast with the crystalline water, creating a surreal landscape. Pedestrian access is available from the adjacent Lido Rossello beach. Please note: climbing the steps is often regulated or prohibited to preserve the UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Luigi Pirandello House Museum is located in the Caos district of Porto Empedocle, a hamlet of Agrigento, where the 1934 Nobel Prize-winning playwright was born in 1867. This 19th-century farmhouse, now a museum, houses manuscripts, first editions, photographs, and personal items of the author of Six Characters in Search of an Author. Pirandello's ashes rest in the garden, at the foot of a lone pine tree. Breathtaking sea views and a unique literary atmosphere await.
Agrigento's historic center climbs the hill above the Valley of the Temples, with its medieval streets, stairways, and noble palaces. Worth visiting are the Norman-Gothic Cathedral of San Gerlando, the Church of Santa Maria dei Greci, built on a 5th-century BC Doric temple, the Monastery of Santo Spirito, famous for its cloistered nuns' almond pastries, and Via Atenea, the city's main street. The atmosphere is authentic, with views of the Valley, with the temples illuminated at sunset.
The Kolymbethra Garden is a 5-hectare landscaped oasis in the heart of the Valley of the Temples, managed by the FAI (Italian National Trust) since 1999. An ancient Greek fishpond from the 5th century BC has been transformed into a Mediterranean garden with centuries-old citrus groves, olive trees, almond trees, carob trees, and papyrus. A system of underground passages and canals were dug by engineers from Akragas. Nature trails lead between the temples of Vulcan and the Dioscuri, with guided tours and tastings of citrus fruits and traditional Sicilian products.
