Valley of Temples: A Journey Through Ancient Sicily
UNESCO Sites in Italy: Archaeological Area of Agrigento (visited February 2023)
If you thought that China or France tops the list, guess again - with 60 selected areas, Italy is the country with the most UNESCO heritage sites in the world.
Since I live in fair Croatia, Italy is a country I’ve visited often, from a young age, and there are still so many Italian towns and regions on my wish list. This time, I chose to write about Sicily.
Italy has always represented the heart of ancient civilizations, with layers of history in every corner. Visiting Sicily had been a long-held dream of mine, but I kept postponing the idea for so long. Then, in February 2023, a work trip gave me the perfect opportunity, and I was over the moon!
One of the sites I visited was the Valley of the Temples or Valle dei Templi, with its incredible collection of ancient Greek temples from the Magna Graecia era. Unfortunately, this time I visited just a part of the Valley, so this site is still not off my wish list 😊
Sicily is known for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and cultural crossroads. Among the many treasures the island offers, the Valle dei Templi stands out as a symbol of its ancient heritage. This archaeological site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, recognized for its historical, architectural, and cultural significance.
Key terms explained
Magna Graecia: a group of ancient Greek colonies in southern Italy that around 750 BCE thrived as important centers of trade, culture, and philosophy.
About the site
The official name of the site is Archaeological Area of Agrigento due to its location near the town of Agrigento on the southern coast of Sicily. This vast archaeological site is one of the most remarkable examples of ancient Greek architecture outside Greece itself and is home to some of the best-preserved temples of the classical period, dating back to the 5th century BCE. It covers 934 ha of the ancient polis, from the Rupe Atenea to the acropolis of the original ancient city, as well as to the sacred hill on which stand the main Doric temples and up to the extramural necropolis.