Agrigento on the southern coast of Sicily is famous for its ancient temples, dating back to the 4th century BC, in the Valle dei Templi. The Temple of Concordia is the best preserved Doric sanctuary in Sicily, and perhaps in the world. The oldest is the Temple of Hercules, with its tall columns.
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ShareTemple in Agrigento
Agrigento was founded by Greeks in early 581 BC, and was important in antiquity. Initially ruled by the tyrant Phalaris, the city became a democracy in 470 BC. In 210 BC, the city was conquered by the Romans and became part of the Roman Empire. Rome.
Agrigento is home to many impressive remains from the ancient Greek era. These include a wall with the remains of eight gates and seven Doric temples. The well-preserved Temple of Concordia (top image) was converted into a church in 597 AD.
Things to consider when visiting
The temples are powerful and impressive for their age and it's fascinating that people lived here in such a civilised society so long ago. However, if you're planning to visit them, we'd like to issue a few warnings: 1) Don't visit the temples in the middle of the afternoon in the sweltering summer heat and 2) For God's sake, don't go on those silly sightseeing buses.
We actually took one of those buses (15 euros/person). Why? It was so insanely hot, there was no shade anywhere and the climb from the car park to the temples suddenly seemed heavy. The salesmen managed to lure us to this bus trip as we would get "guide in English" and "perfect views for photos".
The guidance, however, turned out to consist of headphones (whose sound was effectively drowned out by the Italian chattering passengers) and "perfect view"...? Well, maybe if you have a very impressive telephoto lens ...
To really see something we had to leave the bus, buy an entrance ticket (10 euros/person, which was not included in the bus price) and then walk back anyway, sweating and grumbling. Feel free to see the temples, but choose a cooler time and skip the bus. Alternatively - stop on the road outside and take photos from a distance from your own car!
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BP says:
Sorry Helena - allow me a little smile here. I did not think that you would fall for a tourist trick. Just because I/we have fallen for it too, but I would probably not admit it, not voluntarily anyway;-)
So what you want to say with this post is:
1. Go to Sicily in the low season, not the high season.
2. if it would still be 30 degrees + go uphill instead and suffer;-)
3. Check out Google Earth instead.
4. or as the husband usually says about historical sites: Seen it done it, they all lokk the same anyway. He seems to have a point there;-)
31 July 2015 - 23:22
admin says:
BP, I veeet! This is what the 30+ degree heat and eternal sun does to us... We get tired and light offer yes, it happens to us too! 😉 Usually we read beforehand and then you can avoid this kind of thing, but this time it didn't happen.
31 July 2015 - 23:35
4000mil says:
Ha, ha, but that is what I have said:
- No more bus tours!
(Talking about our tourist trap trip in Cappadocia)
/Gunilla
01 August 2015 - 8:12
Nilla says:
Ha ha ha ha yes it's probably not the first or last time you fall for such a trick, at least not me ?
I was temporarily in Sicily when we went on a cruise a couple of years ago, deeply regretting not taking the bus up to Mount Etna. But both kids are motion sickness so I chose the easy way to stay "home". But I really would have liked to see that! Let's see if you end up there again sometime ?
Goodbye
01 August 2015 - 9:07
Maggan och Ingemar says:
We probably chose the right one who saw this in the winter 🙂 We walked from the car park through the first part of the preserved which was on the other side of the road and it was not a difficult part, I think that part was also free because we did not pay anything. You have reached a good part now of Sicily, but have a lot left I see.
01 August 2015 - 9:27
Nils-Åke Hansson says:
Interesting but it is probably the off-season for us.
Nisse
01 August 2015 - 9:49
admin says:
4000 miles, haha, you say "never again" and then some day when you are tired you end up in the trap again 😉.
Nilla, of course it's easy! I haven't really thought about Etna, but maybe you should see it!
Maggan and Ingemar, the experience is probably better in winter! Funny that you didn't have to pay - we couldn't take a step without someone wanting money 🙁 .
Nils-Åke, low season is probably a good choice!
01 August 2015 - 10:35
Ruth i Virginia says:
Sorry you had such a bad experience in Agrigento.
As I mentioned earlier, we were there with a group, Elderhostel, combo
of travel and lessons. It was the beginning of April. Our leaders were a
married couple from Palermo, who both studied in the US. It was very rewarding
(and the temperature was nowhere near summer heat).
I know that many of you who write here do not like travelling on tours;
may even look down on those who do, but many times you will see that
and learn much more than if you were travelling on your own. Like, for example.
football match in Buenos Aires. And when we were in the Everglades in...
Florida, where we had to go out after dark and see what we couldn't see.
in daylight. Must have special authorisation to be in the park after dark.
burglary. Small groups are best, of course - enough for a minibus.
01 August 2015 - 15:41
Lena i Wales says:
Interesting, but would have chosen a different time of year. Can't stand the heat anymore.
Take care!
01 August 2015 - 16:34
admin says:
Ruth in Virginia, no I wouldn't say I look down on that kind of travelling at all! We like to travel more freely, but at a particular sight it can be very interesting with a guided tour. That was exactly what we had hoped to get... Then there is a financial issue. We are travelling for a year and have a tight budget 😉.
Lena in Wales, we think it's too hot now, but there's not much we can do about it...
01 August 2015 - 16:40
Ama de casa says:
In the heat, nothing comes easy. Walking uphill? Well... I'd probably go on that bus ride too. If there are aids to avoid walking in the heat, then...
🙂
01 August 2015 - 16:46
Matts Torebring says:
Sounds typically Italian!
01 August 2015 - 18:11
admin says:
Ana de casa, even small things get super hard when it's 35 degrees...
Matts, in some cases we are inclined to agree that travelling/holidaying in Italy is a bit of a hassle...
01 August 2015 - 23:11