The archaeological tour that I’d like to let you know today is on the biggest island of Italy, Sicily. I’m talking exactly about Agrigento, an historical and archaeological city, where we find the famous “Valle dei Templi” (in english called Valley of the Temples). This Valley represents the most wonderful examples of art and architecture of Greater Greece! Moreover this area is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the main attractions of Sicily, one of the best known, an incredible trip in the evocative remains of the glorious civilizations of the past!

In the Valley you can still visit the remains of seven temples, which are all in Doric style.

Their name are:

• Temple of Concordia, which is one of the best, also because it is well preserved)
• Temple of Juno
• Temple of Heracles, that is in part destroyed by an earthquake and it is the most ancient
• Temple of Zeus Olympic
• Temple of Castor and Pollux, that represents for Agrigento a symbol of the modern city
• Temple of Vulcan and Temple of Asclepius, that is quite far from the others temples because it was the destination for a lot of pilgrims.

After a visit to the Valley of the Temples, you can relax  a bit and enjoy the landscape, for example going to the sea side. Agrigento has got various types of coast, from sand to rock, but in general, most of the beaches are sandy, but only when you stand on a rock beach, you can really understand why it is so beautiful! If you want to try, I advice “Scala dei Turchi” (“The Turkish Steps”) that is really close to Agrigento! It has got an incredible white rock, that owns a natural stairway of marna.

You can also visit the town: the historic center of Agrigento has, with its strict alleys, courtyards and squares, a typical Arabian urban layoutamong the most authentic and best preserved in Sicily! I’m a Sicilian so I suggest everyone to enjoy the food….that honestly is one of the best things!

In town you have different choices, visit the ancient church, or the cathedral of the city; you can also go to the theater, the house and the library of Luigi Pirandello. Enjoy also the gardens and the natural reserves or if you want to have a break, there are lots of shops in the center!

Agrigento is all to discover…a little part of an experience called Sicily.

by Ornella