Agrigento
The capital of Sicily’s Agrigento consortium, this ancient Greek settlement transformed into a medieval Norman stronghold. Home to the legendary Valley of the Temples, Agrigento preserves one of the Mediterranean’s most significant archaeological landscapes.
At a glance
Agrigento stands as Sicily’s gateway to classical antiquity, a layered settlement shaped by Greek, Carthaginian, Roman, Arab, and Norman cultures. The city’s defining feature is its extraordinary collection of Doric temples dating to the ancient Greek polis of Akragas, strategically positioned across a valley that dominates the landscape below the modern town.
History
Founded around 580 BC by colonists of Rhodian-Cretan origin from Geloi, Akragas rose rapidly to prominence. By the fifth century BC, it had become one of Sicily’s most powerful Greek city-states, rivaling Syracuse in wealth and influence.
The city’s decline began with conflict against Carthage. During the Punic Wars, Rome conquered the settlement and latinized its name to Agrigentum. Arab rule followed, with the settlement known as Kerkent, until Norman forces reclaimed it in 1089, renaming it Girgenti. This designation persisted until 1927, when it took its current name. Until 1853, Agrigento’s territory encompassed present-day Porto Empedocle.
What you see
The Valley of the Temples showcases eight major Doric temples spanning the sixth and fifth centuries BC. These structures represent the pinnacle of Greek architectural achievement in Sicily, their monumental scale and refined proportions reflecting the city’s former prosperity and cultural sophistication. The temples remain among the best-preserved examples of Greek classical architecture outside Greece itself.
Cultural significance
Agrigento earned its epithet, the City of Temples, through its unparalleled concentration of Greek sacred architecture. In 1997, the Valley of the Temples was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, recognizing its outstanding universal value as a testament to Greek civilization’s expansion into the western Mediterranean and its enduring influence on Western culture.
Key facts
- Address: Piazza Pirandello, 35
- Region: Sicily
- Founded: circa 580 BC
- Coordinates: 37.3110897, 13.5765475
- Phone: 0922 590111
- Official website: https://www.comune.agrigento.it/
Practical information
Agrigento functions as the administrative capital of the free municipal consortium bearing its name. The Valley of the Temples is accessible year-round. Opening hours and admission fees for archaeological sites are available through the official commune website and visitor information services.
Getting there
Agrigento is located on Sicily’s southern coast, accessible by road from Palermo (approximately 130 km northwest) and Catania (approximately 170 km southeast). Regional train and bus services connect the town to major Sicilian cities. The Valley of the Temples lies in the lower valley south of the modern town center.
Sources & resources
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