Page 542 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

540  SOUTHERN IT AL Y

Valley of the Temples

Straddling a low ridge to the part by Christians, who believed
south of Agrigento, the Valley of the temples to be pagan, in the
the Temples (Valle dei Templi) is 6th century. Earthquakes wreaked
one of the most impressive further havoc. Nine of the original ten
complexes of ancient Greek build­ temples are still visible, and the whole
ings outside Greece. Its Doric temples, area can be covered in a day. To avoid
dating from the 5th century BC, crowds, visit early in the morning
were destroyed in part by the (some temples open as early as
Carthaginians in 406 BC, and in 8:30am) or late afternoon.
1 Temple of Hephaestus Telamone from
Apart from a couple of incomplete the Temple of
columns still standing, very little Olympian Zeus
remains of this temple, built c. 430 BC. San Biagio
It is also called the Temple of Vulcan.
Rock Sanctuary
2 Sanctuary of the (see p539) Via dei Templi of Demeter
Chthonic Divinities Museo Regionale Hellenistic
At this group of shrines, Archeologico and Roman
the forces of nature were San Nicola Quarter Strada Panoramica
worshipped. Via dei Templi

Catacombs

Via Sacra
Temple of
Asklepios

4 Temple of Olympian Zeus
Begun c.480 BC, this was the biggest
Doric temple ever built. Unfinished 6 Temple of Herakles
at the time of the Carthaginian This is the oldest temple in the
attack, it is now a toppled ruin. valley (late 6th century BC).
Giant figures known as telamones
were used in its construction. 8 Temple of Juno
Built around 450 BC, this temple
still has many intact columns.
5 Tomb of Theron
Here are the ruins of a Roman
tomb (1st century AD).

3 Temple of Castor Key
and Pollux Suggested route
This is a controversial Ancient walls
assemblage of pieces
from other buildings,
erected in the 19th 7 Temple of Concord
century. Modern This beautifully preserved temple (c.430 BC)
Agrigento (see p539) 0 metres 500 was converted into a Christian church in the
is in the background. 0 yards 500 4th century AD, thus saved from destruction.

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