Temple of Concordia
Among the best preserved.
GodeNehler — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Alephoto — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Holger Uwe Schmitt — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Holger Uwe Schmitt — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ludvig14 — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Valley of the Temples is an archaeological site at Agrigento on Sicily's south coast, about 94 km south of Palermo in a straight line. It is one of the finest examples of Greek art and architecture in Magna Graecia, southern Italy, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. The name «valley» is a misnomer: the site lies on a ridge outside the town of Agrigento, the ancient Akragas. It holds the remains of seven temples, all Doric, whose names are mostly a Renaissance tradition. The archaeological park covers 1,300 hectares, the largest in Europe and the Mediterranean. The best known is the Temple of Concordia, one of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world, standing almost complete with its golden columns among olive and almond trees, looking out towards the sea. Around it lie fallen columns and old walls carved with tombs. Visitors walk the ancient road from temple to temple in two to three hours; start in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat. The temples are lit up at night, and in early spring the almond trees around them blossom.
Among the best preserved.
Blossom in spring.
Lit up.
Agrigento, Sicily, Italy
Two to three hours.
Morning or late afternoon.