In the south of Sicily, near Agrigento, there is another city called Acargas. It is a very Greek city, and most importantly, it is ancient. Akragas was founded in the sixth century B.C.
It was a significant city in the Greek colony that grew in what is now Sicily. Since then, almost every conqueror who came to the area (and there were many) destroyed it almost completely. Even so, it’s a nice place). It was built several times, but it was damaged the same way each time.
As you might expect from a busy and vital city, many temples were built there. This is because there were many gods in Greek culture, and each needed its temple. Even though most of this ancient city couldn’t be saved, eight temples were able to stand the test of time and show what a fascinating culture lived in the area about 2,500 years ago.
Not all of the temples were kept in the same condition. Some were almost entirely undamaged, while others needed much work to fix and finish. The result is a fascinating archaeological site named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
The temple to the god Hercules is the oldest one in the complex. It is also the first one you see when you walk in. The god Zeus was honored by the most significant temple. But neither of the two gods was lucky enough to have the temple built to honor them and stay in good shape. Almost all of the Concordia Temple has been kept, and it looks imposing and whole.
There are other temples on the site, like a temple for the god Jupiter and the temple of Dioskorum, of which only parts are still standing. On the other hand, if you take the time to climb the steps to the Temple of Juno, you can get a great view of the whole area.
The Valley of the Temples is on a ridge with a fantastic sea view. The name suggests that the Valley of the Temples is not precisely in the valley, but everyone already knows. All around the area are olive trees, which are very helpful when it’s hot. The entrance fee is 10 euros per person, and you should use the maps and recorded explanations at the entrance to learn about the history and condition of each temple.
