Valley of the Temples

This small Doric temple is recognisable by its four reconstructed column, reassembled in the 19th century using architectural fragments from across the site. Built as a peripteral 6 × 13-column temple from the mid-5th century BC, it stood in honour of the Dioscuri, though some scholars argue it may have been dedicated to chthonic deities. A symbolic entry point to the Valley, it’s often the first temple visitors see after entering via Porta V.

Standing at the western end of the Valley, this ruined Doric temple dates from the late 5th century BCE and was likely dedicated to Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire and metalworking (known to the Romans as Vulcan). Only fragments remain today—two columns and part of the stylobate—but its elevated position offers a fine view across the surrounding countryside. It once had 6×13 columns and a central cella, and sits near the entrance to the Kolymbethra Garden.

Begun after the Battle of Himera in 480 BC, this was intended to be the largest Doric temple ever built. Though never completed and now mostly collapsed, its immense base (56 × 113 m) hints at its original scale. The temple was unusual in having giant male figures, called telamones or atlases, integrated into its structure as support columns. Fragments of one 7.6 m-tall-figure lie nearby. Destroyed by earthquakes and later used as a stone quarry, it remains an impressive and evocative ruin.

Believed to be the oldest temple in the Valley, this Doric temple was likely dedicated to Heracles (Hercules), one of the most venerated deities in Agrigento. Dating to the late 6th century BCE, it originally had 6×15 columns. Today, eight impressive columns still stand on the south side, partially reconstructed in the 20th century. The temple’s location near the ancient agora suggests it held civic and religious significance.

Built around 440 BC, the Temple of Concordia is the most iconic and well-preserved monument in the Valley of the Temples. Its nearly intact colonnade—34 sturdy Doric columns—stands as a testament to classical Greek engineering. Converted into a Christian basilica in the 6th century, it was later restored to its original form. The temple sits on a ridge with stunning views and is particularly striking at sunrise or sunset when bathed in golden light. Now a symbol of Agrigento, it gives the valley its most recognisable image.

Built in the 5th century BC and dedicated to the goddess Hera (known to the Romans as Juno), this temple commands a stunning view over the valley and coast. Eighteen of its original thirty-four columns still stand, with evidence of fire damage from a historical attack. A reconstructed altar sits nearby, and the temple is especially striking at sunset due to its eastern ridge position. Despite some erosion, it remains one of the most evocative Doric temples in Agrigento.

Located just outside the city walls to the south, this small temple was dedicated to the god of healing. It likely served as a sanctuary for pilgrims seeking cures and is referenced by ancient writers like Polybius. Today, only the foundation and base stones remain, but the site is peaceful and evocative, sitting away from the more crowded temples.

This ancient sanctuary, likely dedicated to Demeter and Persephone, lies just outside the ancient eastern city walls beneath the modern Church of San Biagio. The site includes altars, votive pits, and cisterns used for religious rites related to fertility and the underworld. Today, visitors can view the archaeological remains beside the church, which dates to the Norman era and stands on the ancient temple’s foundations.