Valley of the Temples, located near the city of Agrigento in Sicily - it is one of the most outstanding examples of art and architecture of the Great Greece, as well as one of the main attractions of the island and a national monument of Italy. In 1997, the Valley was included in the list of World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

I must say that the term "valley" The used in this case is not entirely correct, because the place is located on the crest of the mountains outside of Agrigento. There are the ruins of seven temples, built in the Doric style. Most of the excavations in the valley and the further restoration of the temple took place thanks to the efforts of the famous Italian archaeologist Domenico Antonio Lo The phase Pietrasanta, who from 1809 to 1812 years, held the title of Duke of Serradifalco. In addition, here in the valley, it is the so-called Tomb of Theron - a huge pyramid-shaped monument made of tufa and is presumed to be dedicated to the memory of the Romans, who died during the Second Punic War.

Temple of Juno Lachin was built on an artificial elevation of about 450 BC He had a size 38, 1 x 16, 9 meters and was surrounded by 19 columns. The building was badly damaged in a fire 406 BC and it was restored in the Roman era. Today, from its former magnificence preserved only the front part of the colonnade with architrave and frieze. Nearby burial of the Byzantine period.

To the north of the temple of Lachin is the so-called Temple of Castor and Pollux, which was actually built in the 19th century from different parts of the other temples. It consists of four columns and entablature, placed at the base of the ancient temple of size 31 x 13, 3 meters.

Temple of Concordia, thanks to its excellent condition, is considered one of the most significant buildings of the Greek civilization, surviving. It has roughly the same size as the temple of Lachin and is also surrounded by columns. Inside and outside its walls were covered with plaster, and the roof was covered with marble tiles. During the Byzantine era the temple was converted into a Christian church: pagan altar was destroyed, and in the eastern corner of the sacristy was built. Burials around the temple belong to the Middle Ages.

Temple of Asclepius, built in the late 5th century BC, is in the heart of the plain of San Gregorio. It is much smaller than the previous churches, and historians still doubt its destination. In the sanctuary of the temple you can see a bronze statue of Apollo Greek sculptor Myron's work - a gift to the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio.

Temple of Hercules was erected at the end of the 6th century BC and is considered one of the first temples built during the reign of Theron. However, different parts of the temple are of different ages, which suggests that it was built for a long time and was rebuilt. This is one of the biggest temples of the valley - it has dimensions of 67 * 25, 3 meters and is surrounded by 21 Doric columns. In the eastern part of the remains of a large altar.

On the other side of the road leading through the Golden Gate of the ancient city, plain stretches with a huge Olympic field on which the Temple of Zeus and several other buildings, closed at the time of excavation. From the once magnificent temple in ruins - the destruction began in ancient times and continued until the 18th century, when the building was used as a quarry for the construction of the town of Porto Empedocle.

It is also the temple of Vulcan, built in the 5th century BC Its scenery created in the years 560-550 BC, have been recently renovated.