From Villa Charm and Elegance to the Valley of the Temples is six kilometres. Just the right distance to set off after breakfast, walk among the temples in the soft morning light and be back in the pool when the sun gets strong.
On the way there's Porto Empedocle, 7 km from the villa, with the railway station; the Pirandello Theatre, in Agrigento, is 15 km.
In short: six kilometres from the villa, a morning among the temples and the afternoon in the pool.
What the Valley of the Temples is
It's the archaeological park of ancient Akragas, the city founded by Greek colonists in the 6th century BC, and it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Despite the name, the temples don't sit at the bottom of a valley: they line a ridge, with the sea on the horizon and olive trees all around. A landscape you remember.
What to see
- the Temple of Concordia, one of the best-preserved Doric temples in the world, with Igor Mitoraj's large bronze fallen Icarus in front of it
- the Temple of Juno, at the eastern end of the ridge
- the Temple of Heracles, considered the oldest in the Valley
- the Temple of Olympian Zeus, with the copy of the great Telamon lying on the ground
- the Temple of the Dioscuri, whose four columns have become the symbol of Agrigento
- the Kolymbethra Garden, citrus and olive trees in a small valley among the temples
- the “Pietro Griffo” Regional Archaeological Museum, home of the original Telamon
How to plan your visit
In summer it's best to go in early: there's little shade along the Via Sacra, and there's quite a walk between temples. Comfortable shoes, a hat and a bottle of water make all the difference.
Opening times, tickets and evening openings change with the season: check them on the Archaeological Park's official website before you go, and if you're travelling in high season consider buying your ticket in advance.
When you get back, the villa's pool is waiting, open all year round with no set hours. And on beach days, the Scala dei Turchi and the nearby beaches are even closer at hand.