Valle dei Templi Autodrome
The Valle dei Templi Autodrome is a motor racing circuit located near Agrigento, in the territory of the Valle dei Templi archaeological park in southern Sicily. Set against one of the most celebrated ancient Greek landscapes in the world — a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997 — the autodrome has hosted regional and national motorsport events, making it one of the most scenically distinctive racing venues in Italy.
At a glance
- Type
- Motorsport circuit / autodrome
- Period
- 20th century; exact founding date to be confirmed with official sources
- Style
- Road circuit in a UNESCO World Heritage landscape
- Location
- Agrigento, Province of Agrigento, Sicily, Italy
- Coordinates
- 37.3859° N, 13.7535° E
Overview
The autodrome sits in the extraordinary archaeological setting of the Valle dei Templi, or Valley of the Temples — an extensive ridge outside Agrigento that preserves the remains of one of the largest ancient Greek cities of Magna Graecia. The valley is home to seven Doric temples, the most famous of which is the Temple of Concordia (5th century BC), one of the best-preserved Greek temples anywhere in the world. The juxtaposition of modern motorsport infrastructure against this millennia-old landscape is rare even by Italian standards.
History
Agrigento, known in antiquity as Akragas, was founded by Greek colonists from Rhodes and Gela around 582 BC and rapidly grew into one of the wealthiest cities of the ancient Mediterranean world. The monumental temples were erected between roughly 510 and 430 BC during the city’s golden age. The modern town of Agrigento developed on the hill above the ancient site, while the valley itself became an archaeological park over the course of the 20th century. The autodrome emerged as part of the broader network of regional motorsport infrastructure in Sicily, a province with a long tradition of road racing connected to the Targa Florio.
What you see
Visitors to the autodrome area experience a landscape unique in motorsport: the circuit is set within or immediately adjacent to the archaeological park, where almond trees, olive groves, and ancient temple ruins define the visual horizon. On race days, the sound of engines contrasts with the quiet archaeological zone and its ancient stonework. Outside event periods the area is dominated by the natural beauty of the Mediterranean landscape and the impressive silhouettes of the Doric temples on their ridge.
Cultural significance
The Valle dei Templi was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997 as part of the Archaeological Area of Agrigento, recognised as an outstanding example of Greek architecture and urban planning. The entire valley is one of the most important classical archaeological sites in the Mediterranean, drawing scholars, tourists, and heritage professionals from across the world. The autodrome occupies a singular position within this landscape, representing the layering of modern uses upon ancient terrain that characterises much of southern Italy’s inhabited heritage zones.
Practical information
- Address
- Valle dei Templi area, Agrigento, Province of Agrigento, Sicily
- Access
- Check official website for event schedules and public access arrangements
- Hours
- Varies by event; the Valle dei Templi archaeological park has its own entry hours and fees
Getting there
From Agrigento city centre, the Valle dei Templi is reached via Via dei Templi heading south (approximately 3 km). By public transport, take the local bus from Agrigento Centrale station toward Porto Empedocle and alight at the Valle dei Templi stop. By car from Palermo: take the SS121 or SS189 to Agrigento (approximately 130 km); the valley is well signposted from the motorway approach.