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Valley of the Temples

Agrigento's ridge of Greek temples, including the nearly intact Temple of Concordia.

  • Agrigento
  • Archaeological site
Plan your visitSee tours
Where
Agrigento
Best for
Temple of Concordia
Allow
2 hr 30 min
Tickets
From €14
Checked September 2026

Greek colonists founded Akragas in 582 BC and lined a limestone ridge above the sea with temples to advertise their new city's wealth. The Temple of Concordia, raised around 430 BC, is the best-preserved Doric temple anywhere outside Greece, saved by an odd stroke of luck: sixth-century Christians converted it into a church, which kept it standing instead of being quarried for stone like its neighbors.

Farther along the ridge, the fallen giant that was the Temple of Olympian Zeus once carried stone telamons, bearded giants some 25 feet tall, one of which now lies reassembled on the ground. Come in February and the almond trees between the ruins are in bloom, timed with the Sagra del Mandorlo in Fiore folk festival. UNESCO listed the whole valley in 1997.

Sources and citations (2)
  1. UNESCO World Heritage CentreArchaeological Area of AgrigentoBrief synthesisRead source
  2. Ministero della CulturaParco archeologico e paesaggistico della Valle dei TempliPark descriptionRead source

Five things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

  1. Temple of ConcordiaGreek Doric temple, c. 430 BC

    Nearly intact thanks to its conversion into a church in the sixth century; photograph it from below and then walk up to the columns.Lower ridge

  2. Temple of Hera Lacinia (Juno)Greek Doric temple, c. 450 BC

    Crowning the highest point, its stone still carries the reddening of the fire set by the Carthaginians in 406 BC.Eastern end of the ridge

  3. The telamon at the Temple of Olympian ZeusGreek colonists of Akragas

    A giant figure about 25 feet tall lies among the fallen blocks; these atlantes carried the roof of what was one of the largest Doric temples ever planned.Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus

  4. Temple of Castor and PolluxGreek Doric temple, restored columns

    Four columns and a corner of entablature that have become the emblem of Agrigento; come at golden hour.Lower entrance

  5. The Kolymbethra gardenAncient Greek water basin, now a garden

    A sunken garden of citrus and olives in an ancient reservoir; a cool, shaded break from the exposed ridge.Hollow beside the lower temples

Plan your visit

Everything you need before you go.

Tickets
From €14
Booking
No booking needed
Time needed
2 hr 30 min
Best time
Early morning or the last two hours before closing, to miss the heat and buses
Getting there
Paid parking and a free shuttle sit at both the upper (Temple of Juno) and lower (Temple of Castor and Pollux) entrances, about 3 miles from central Agrigento; city buses also run from the station.
Accessibility
The main track along the ridge is largely level gravel, but the original stone surfaces around individual temples are uneven; visitors with disabilities and a companion enter free.

€19.60 combined with the Regional Archaeological Museum (€9.60 and €7 reduced respectively); free for EU citizens under 18 and for visitors with disabilities and a companion; free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month until 7 p.m. Last updated September 2026. Prices change, so check the official site before you go.

Walk the ridge from the upper Juno entrance downhill to Concordia and the Dioscuri, then take the shuttle back up; it's a one-way itinerary that avoids backtracking.

See toursOfficial website
Get directionsGoogle MapsApple Maps

Tours worth booking

A few we would book ourselves, to get more from your visit.

Booking through these links may earn Italia Magnifica a commission, at no cost to you.

  1. AGRIGENTO and WINERY Private Tour with Guide Driver

    • Viator
    • 7h
    • 5.0★ · 1 reviews
    from €380Book this tour

  2. Agrigento Audio Guide with AI crafted

    • Viator
    • 5h
    • 5.0★ · 1 reviews
    from €8Book this tour

  3. Agrigento: Valley of the Temples Tour – Small Group or Private

    • Viator
    • 2h
    • 4.7★ · 91 reviews
    from €33Book this tour

  4. Agrigento : dinner and immersive show in the Valley of the Temples

    • Viator
    • 2h 30m
    • 4.6★ · 29 reviews
    from €59Book this tour

  5. Agrigento- Piazza Armerina

    • Viator
    • 8h
    • 4.0★ · 6 reviews
    from €115Book this tour

  6. Private tour from Palermo to Agrigento and Piazza Armerina

    • Viator
    • 10h
    • 4.0★ · 4 reviews
    from €300Book this tour

Good to know

How long should you spend in the Valley of the Temples?

Two to two and a half hours covers the temples along the ridge. Add time if you want the Kolymbethra garden and the archaeological museum.

Where do you enter the Valley of the Temples?

There are two entrances: the upper one near the Temple of Juno and the lower one near the Temple of Castor and Pollux, each with parking. Most visitors start at the top and walk downhill, using the free shuttle to get back.

When is the best time to visit the Valley of the Temples?

Early morning or the last hours before closing, when the stone turns golden and the heat and tour buses thin out. In February the almond trees bloom between the ruins.

More to see nearby

Same city first, then the nearest across the region.

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