Agrigento – Archaeological area

The archaeological area bears witness to the classical Greek culture of ancient times and is home to temples dedicated to the gods and goddesses, as well as the necropolis and the sanctuaries outside the town.
The Temple of Juno was erected in the 5th century BC in the highest point in the valley and dedicated to Hera Lacinia. It was set on fire by the Carthaginians in 406 BC. The Greeks celebrated marriages after a ritual of appeasement in this temple, dedicated to the goddess of marriage and childbirth.
The Temple of Concordia is along Via Sacra and was also built around the 5th century. It is the only one to remain relatively intact, possibly thanks to its conversion into a Christian church in the 6th century AD. The temple got its name from a Latin inscription found near the temple.
The Temple of Heracles (Hercules) was the first temple built and it was dedicated to Hercules, hero of Sicily and Agrigento in particular. Inside the temple there was a bronze statue of this character. The temple was destroyed by an earthquake and now only 8 of its original 38 columns remain.
The Temple of Zeus (Jupiter) was built to thank Zeus for their victory against the Carthaginians at Himera in 480 BC. The temple is distinguished by its telamons, giant human figures, used between each column to support the building.
The Temple of Castor and Pollux (Dioscuri) is dedicated to Leda (the queen of the Spartans) and Zeus’s twins. This temple is now the symbol of Agrigento and has only four remaining columns.
The Temple of Vulcan Very little is left of this temple built in the 5th century BC, but it must have been a very impressive sight. Traces of an earlier temple have been found beneath its foundations.
The Temple of Asclepius (Esculapius) was built far from the city walls and was a place visited by sick pilgrims hoping to be cured. The temple walls were covered with messages from those who had been cured.
The Tomb of Theron was built near the Porta Aurea and is a significant monument built with local volcanic tuff. The tomb is pyramid shaped and was built to honour the dead from the 2nd Punic war.