• Eraclea Minoa Capo Bianco

  • Eraclea Minoa ruderi

  • Museo Archeologico

  • Resti Tempio-di Zeus

  • Telamone

  • Tempi di Giunone

  • Tempio dei Dioscuri

  • Tempio della Concordia

  • Tempio di Ercole

 

Agrigento was in the 5th century b.c. Akràgas: one of the most flourishing Greek colonies of the West. The majestic Valley of Temples, declared by UNESCO a world heritage site, and the splendid artifacts kept by the Archaeological Museum of Agrigento proving its ancient greatness. Celebrated in the age of the Grand Tour by Goethe, Guy de Maupassant and many other distinguished travellers, even today the Valley of Temples enchants with emotions.

In the East, on a rocky ridge overlooking the sea,there are the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Concordia, best example of conservative classical temple over Greece, and the Temple of Hercules, considered the oldest in the Valley for its greatest strength. The archaeological area continues in the western sector of the hill with the colossal remains of the Temple of Zeus, originally supported by cyclopean statues called Atlantes. The Telamon who lies in the centre of the area of the ruins is a reproduction of the original preserved in the archaeological museum.

Past the Temple of Zeus, you access to the area dedicated to the deities of the Earth such as Demeter, Goddess of fertility and harvest, and her daughter Kore, Goddess of spring. Among the ruins of this area are the Temple of Castor and Pollux and the magnificent valley below that is the Garden of Kolymbetra: a small eden of Mediterranean scrub and citrus fruits.

Beyond the Valley of the Kolymbetra, among olive trees, you can glimpse the remains of the Temple of Vulcan. You can complete this route in ancient history by visiting the archaeological area of Eraclea Minoa,at  50 km from Agrigento. Eraclea Minoa was founded by the inhabitants of Selinunte (Selinoùs) in the 6th century b.c. on a magnificent headland facing the sea, at the foot of the mouth of the River Platani.

Eraclea Minoa was a rich city of strategic importance, so it was often the centre of a dispute between the two largest neighboring poleis, Agrigento and Selinunte. The material found during excavations is preserved in the Antiquarium  at the entrance to the site. The ruins of walls, some living quarters and the only Greek Theatre in the province of Agrigento are what remains of its former glory.

The Hotel Kore's Reception staff will be pleased to offer you  all directions, maps and information for this route.
 
Valley of Temples: 3 km distance from the Hotel.