What to See at the Valley of the Temples

The Valley of the Temples is the surviving heart of Akragas, a Greek city founded around 580 BC that grew into one of the great powers of Magna Graecia. Today its temples line the Via Sacra ridge above Agrigento — a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. This is what to look for, in the order you’ll meet them walking east to west. For how to actually get around, see how to visit the Valley of the Temples.

Temple of Juno (Hera)

First at the eastern, upper end, the Temple of Juno (built around the mid-5th century BC) sits dramatically on the ridge’s edge. You can still see scorch marks on its stones — thought to be from the Carthaginian sack of the city in 406 BC. It’s a fine warm-up and a great vantage point back along the row.

Temple of Concordia — The Star

A short walk on stands the Temple of Concordia, built around 440–430 BC and one of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples anywhere in the world. Its survival is no accident: in the 6th century AD it was converted into a Christian basilica, which kept it standing while others were quarried or collapsed; the Doric form was restored in the 18th century. In front lies a haunting modern bronze — Igor Mitoraj’s “Fallen Icarus” — a winged figure that has become one of the site’s signature images. If you photograph one temple, make it this one, ideally at golden hour.

Temple of Heracles (Hercules)

Near the western end is the Temple of Heracles, the oldest in the valley (late 6th century BC). Eight of its columns were re-raised in the 20th century, giving you a real sense of its scale and age.

Temple of Olympian Zeus & the Telamon

Across the road sprawls the most ambitious ruin of all: the Temple of Olympian Zeus (Olympieion), begun around 480 BC to celebrate victory over Carthage and intended to be the largest Doric temple ever built — roughly 113 by 56 metres. It was never finished and now lies in a vast field of fallen stone. Its most astonishing feature is the Telamons — colossal male figures nearly 8 metres tall that stood between the columns, arms raised as if holding up the entablature. One has been re-erected upright at the site (2024), and an original is displayed in the nearby Pietro Griffo Archaeological Museum, well worth pairing with your visit.

Temple of the Dioscuri — Agrigento’s Emblem

The four reassembled corner columns of the Temple of the Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux) are the symbol of Agrigento — the postcard shot you’ll recognise. Though the standing fragment was pieced together in the 19th century, it perfectly captures the romance of the ruined classical world.

The Kolymbethra Garden

Tucked into a hollow below the temples is the Giardino della Kolymbethra, an ancient garden set in what was once a Greek irrigation basin (its name means “pool”), fed by 5th-century BC underground aqueducts. Now a lush citrus grove managed by the FAI heritage trust, it requires a separate ticket but offers the only real shade on the ridge — a cool, fragrant break on a hot day.

A Suggested Order

1. Temple of Juno (start at the top)
2. Temple of Concordia (linger here)
3. Temple of Heracles
4. Temple of Olympian Zeus + the Telamon
5. Temple of the Dioscuri
6. Kolymbethra Garden to finish

Because on-site signage is thin, the stories behind these stones are easy to miss on your own — which is exactly the case for a guided tour over a plain ticket. And the light matters: see the best time to visit for why sunset is unbeatable here.

Ready to Book?

A top-rated small-group Valley of the Temples guided tour walks you past every temple above with a certified local guide and skip-the-line entry — free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Check availability and see Akragas come to life.