- Agrigento
Last admission: 1 hour before closing
Audio guide: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Wheelchair accessible Kolymbethra Garden has steep slopes and may present some accessibility issues
Step into a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the largest archaeological site in the world. The sun-drenched ruins in the ancient Valley of the Temples will revive the lost imagery of long-collapsed Greek and Byzantine Empires. This combo ticket also lets you wander the neighbouring, ancient Kolymbethra Garden.
The Valley of the Temples is not actually in a valley, believe it or not. It's actually on a ridge. But don't let that minor detail put you off – the temples at Agrigento are a sight to behold, and the ridge itself is quite the looker!
With the Mediterranean sea hugging the shores at your side, explore the sun-kissed remains of what was once a thriving society as you move from temple to temple, past fallen statues, an 800-year-old olive tree, and down the beautiful Via Sacra – the Sacred Road.
The remains are in varying conditions and the centuries have certainly taken their toll in places, but whether you're drawn to the stunningly preserved Concordia Temple or the weather-beaten Temple of Olympian Zeus, with its atlases and giant statues, you're sure to be affected by these monumental structures.
Next, enjoy the fragrant garden of Kolymbethra. This ancient garden is alive with lush orchards, rocky edifices, and copious cacti that have stood the test of time. The Archaeological and Landscape Park of the Valley of the Temples spans over 1,300 hectares and is one of the largest archaeological sites in the world! Amidst the citrus-smelling orchards and ancient ruins, you can have a picnic and relax amongst astonishing Greek architecture, just like Zeus would have done.