:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-726776721-595957393df78c4eb62a1f4a.jpg?w=870&ssl=1)
Once of the top places I wish to see in the near future is the Valley of Temples located in the city of Agrigento on the island of Sicily. Agrigento contains some of the best preserved Greek temples outside of Greece and in ancient times was once a thriving Greek market town.
Situated atop a hillside, the temples overlook the Mediterranean Sea. The temples themselves date back to the 4th or 5th century BC, but were not rediscovered until the end of the 18th century. They have survived so much including earthquakes, other natural disasters and warfare.
Note that before you make any plans, please be aware that information is always changing. Please consult the official website here.
Getting There
All information is taken from the official website. The Valley of the Temples can also be reached by car.
Tickets
Full price tickets are 12 Euros, but if you are an EU citizen aged 18-24, you will only pay 7 Euros. Anyone under the age of 18 is free regardless of nationality.
Audio guides are also available for 5 Euros in English, Italian, French, German, or Spanish.
From my own experience, I have rented audio guides before, but I prefer to take a guide book along with me. Audio guides I enjoy at first, however, midway through the walking tour, I find I don’t enjoy the information overload. I prefer to focus on taking photos and seeing things at my own pace.
Opening Times
The ground are open from 8:30 in the morning until 7:30 in the evening.
I would recommend avoiding the heat of the day in summer.
The Layout
The grounds are divided into two different areas, the Eastern Zone and the Western zone. In total, this equates to about 3-4 miles of walking and things to see.
The Temples at the Site
Museum
Information taken from the Along Dusty Roads Blog
Wrapping Up
As much as I wish I could provide you with more information, I have not actually been able to visit the site for myself. But in comparing it to Greece, I would say make sure you carry a bottle of water with you to stay hydrated and plan to wear comfy shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. Many ancient temples do not have paved roads by them and instead are loose dirt.
I hope you may have found this post helpful.