Picture Stories - Historical Places - VISIT AGRIGENTO

Agrigento was the name given by the Romans after its conquest from the Greeks. It was later occupied by Byzantines, Arabs and Normans. However, it is best known for its original beginnings as an important ancient Greek city, Akragas and its principal sacred site at the Valley of The Temples.

The temples were mainly dated back to the 5th and 6th century BC and rank among the most impressive of all ancient Greek buildings outside Greece. However, they also suffered the fate of ferocious attacks from Carthage.

Ruins of the Temple of Hercules built in 500 BC in the Valley
of the Temples. There are 9 columns successfully erected,
8 of which by an Englishman named Captain Alexander Hardcastle.

Temple of Concorde, beautifully reconstructed and most well
preserved. Dated back to 430 BC, it was turned into a
church in 66 AD and restored in 18th century.

Site of the Temple of Giove (Jupiter). The temple was meant to be
the biggest temple in the valley but was unfinished following an
attack from the Carthaginians in 405 BC.Lying down, a
reconstructed Gigante - 6 m high telemone which was a
supporting column sculptured in the form of a male figure.
Another more complete figure stands upright in the
museum of Agrigento.

Steps leading up to the Temple of Hera which has only 34 columns
left. It was built in 450 BC in the same manner as the Temple
of Concorde except that it is smaller and older.

Remains of the Temple of Hera - elegant columns and
part of the sacrificial alter.

View from the Odean - the remains of the original bouleuterion
built in 4 to 3 BC and in the distance, Temple of Concorde and
sea. (The miniature ‘bridge’ is not part of history but a
suspended walkway for visitors).