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Agrigento: Valley of the Temples and Scala dei Turchi Private Tour from Palermo
4.8
37 Ratings
Agrigento
Explore the ancient Greco-Roman history of Sicily on a private tour of Agrigento's Valley of the Temples and Scala dei Turchi. Discover Doric architecture, botanical gardens, and historical artifacts.
Duration:
10 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Valle dei Templi - The tour includes a visit to the archaeological park of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. Characterized by an excellent state of conservation, and by important Doric temples of the Hellenic period. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. The route starts from the Rupe Atenea, where the Sanctuary of Zeus Atabyrios and Athena Lindia were located and where today – on the eastern end – it is possible to admire the Temple of Demeter, the rock sanctuary of Demeter and Persephone and the remains of Greek fortifications. Continuing along the Via Panoramica dei Templi, you will find the ticket office and the Tempio di Giunone; from here, the Via Sacra cuts the Hill of the Temples in two. On the left, the remains of the Greek walls and the Byzantine arcosolia and – above all – the Temple of Concordia, one of the best preserved in the Greek world. Continuing, on the right you can admire the Villa Aurea, and the Temple of Heracles, the oldest of the Agrigento temples. Going beyond the Via Sacra you enter the area of the colossal Temple of Zeus, among the largest in the Greek world, and - below - the Sanctuary of the Chthonic deities (Demeter and Persephone) and the garden of Kolymbetra. The route ends by going up towards the modern city, and crossing the hillock of San Nicola. The last places of interest are the Ekklesiasterion, the Oratory of Falàride and the National Archaeological Museum, home to the splendid Ephebe of Agrigento. - San Leone - Agrigento is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world, the most visited ever, a symbol of antiquity with its suggestive Valley of the Temples. But Agrigento is not only culture and history. It is beautiful not only for its exceptional archaeological heritage, but also for the natural environment that characterizes it. The beautiful beach of San Leone is made up of soft golden sand, characterized by kilometers of sandy shores bathed by a splendid sea, with an intense blue color and clear waters. Its promenade (Falcone and Borsellino) is embellished with tall palm trees that line it. In its vicinity there are all kinds of services, shops and restaurants offering typical Sicilian specialities. After exploring the archaeological sites of the Valle dei Templi Park, treat yourself to lunch in a small restaurant facing the Falcone Borsellino promenade in San Leone. Here the dishes are based on land and sea ingredients together, a unique mix with a Mediterranean flavour. - Stair of the Turks - A splendid dazzling white jewel that frames the clear blue of the sea is the Scala dei Turchi. One of the favorite destinations of southern summers, thanks to its conformation with soft, rounded and irregular lines and to the color of its “cold” white cliff. It is composed of clayey and calcareous sedimentary rock, which gives the cliff its characteristic white color and low temperature to the touch. The cliff can be reached via a path of huge steps, on top of which tourists usually “camp” to sunbathe or admire the wonderful panorama overlooking the equally fascinating coast of Agrigento.
What's Included
- Bottled water
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Bilingual driver (Italian-English, Italian-French on request)
- Child seats available upon request
- Convenient pickup service from your hotel or port
What's Not Included
- Tour guide (only by purchasing the option with Guide included)
- Valley of the Temples entrance tickets (starting from 8:00 euros)
- Entrance tickets to the “Pietro Griffo” Regional Archaeological Museum (from 8:00 euros)
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Explore the rich Greco-Roman heritage of Sicily. Take in the wondrous Doric architecture of Agrigento’s Valle dei Tempi, a UNESCO heritage site, during this comprehensive day-long chauffeured tour. Wander in the exquisite Kolymbethra Garden brimming with diverse botanical specimens. Swing by the Pietro Griffo Regional Archaeological Museum to appreciate an array of historical relics. Spend time at one of Sicily’s most picturesque beaches, home to the renowned Scala dei Turchi. To delve deeper into the history of the archaeological site, consider opting for a guided tour (two-hour guided tour of the Valley of the Temples with a certified guide)
Location
Valle dei Templi
Piazza Archeologica 1, Via Panoramica Dei Templi
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(37 Ratings)
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Mikesh715vw
Jun 5, 2024
Impressive views - Valley of the Temples, Agrigento Sicily is a UNESCO site. It is an Ancient Greek settlement with Temple ruins and beautiful views. The grounds are well cared for and an easy walk. Impressive temples are the highlight but the gardens and flora are impressive also. Anna our guide was knowledgeable about both and filled in the background with stories and history. Thanks Anna you made the experience memorable and fun
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anonymous
May 27, 2024
Great day and worth the money - The drive was spectacular! Claudio our driver was fantastic and spoke English very well. Pointed out every point of interest along the way to the temples. Anna our guide was awesome and knowledgeable. Could not have done that without her. Claudio took us to a restaurant for lunch and it was delicious! Turkish steps were gorgeous. Highly recommend this excursion.
Review provided by Viator
Maryb_l
May 22, 2024
Very informative visit -
The historical significance and the impressive knowledge from the guide made this experience in Sicily memorable. We were in awe of the remaining artifacts from those time periods.
Review provided by Viator
Dianacarroll_c
May 17, 2024
Amazing tour with Marcello - This tour was amazing the temple the Turkish steps breath taking . Marcelo was our driver and took us to an amazing restaurant for lunch. He was so kind and considerate of our needs . Who takes the tour to the temple please ask for Marcelo for your tour guide .
Review provided by Viator
Richard_r
May 12, 2024
Plan with weather in mind - Driver made trip informative. The guide was knowledgeable and extremely nice. As with most long drives the weather can be the difference between great and a wasted day. We were lucky and had good weather.
Review provided by Viator
Theresa_b
May 11, 2024
Worry free day to relax and enjoy! - Our trip to Agrigento was wonderful! It is beautiful and amazing to see one of the most well preserved Greek temples. We were in Palermo and really wanted to see the ruins. Booking through Viator provided a fantastic driver Marcello who picked us up at our hotel. He was extremely kind and made the trip so comfortable. He coordinated the local guide for our tour of Agrigento who met us upon our arrival. On our way back to Palermo Marcello arranged a table at a wonderful restaurant with a beautiful view of Scala deli Turchi. It was a wonderful day and very memorable experience.
Review provided by Viator
D1656remaurizios
May 6, 2024
History Day - Beautiful, a wonderful day full of history on the first Sunday of the month you didn't even pay for the ticket and I'll give you the guarantee that it deserves
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kellywq8410vj
Feb 9, 2024
Great trip - We had a great time. The guide was excellent the driver very capable. the guide was very well versed and entraining. The views are great and the ride a little long.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bettyann_c
Nov 17, 2023
Valle dei Templi is a must see! - I had a great time on the tour. Visiting the Vlle dei Templi with a guide is a must or else you don't really know what you are looking at except you know it's the ruins of a temple. Anna provided the history and the why. Also, the weather in Sicily in November is so much better than during the summer. My driver Mimmo was great! So professional, knowledgeable, and a good driver (especially in Palermo traffic). Pick-up and drop-off were great. Mimmo's restaurant recommendation was wonderful! It was too bad the Scala dei Turchi was closed off due to possible landslides, but the views were magnificant! We drove to 2 different spots to get some great views. Got on to the beach and walked as close as I could get. Overall, well worth the time and money spent. Would definitely recommend to others.
Review provided by Viator
Susan_p
May 26, 2024
Photo Misleading - Anna our tour guide at the Valley of the Temples was exemplary—informed, engaging, extremely knowledgeable, great visual aids, fun to spend time with. Our driver was a disappointment in that he had an agenda for lunch—where he wanted to eat—we strongly suspect he got a free lunch! When I suggested a place on the water where friends had eaten, he said we didn’t want that place and he had never gotten a complaint about the place we ended up at. We would have preferred a mediocre restaurant on the water vs. a mediocre restaurant near a (not-in-operation that day) children’s amusement park. The photo for this tour shows the beach near the gorgeous Turkish Steps, and we only got to see them from up above on the other side. As we drove past the area we wanted to see, eat, including a closer view of the beach and water, the other couple from our guided tour were on the road, so clearly it was an option to stop there. This was a very expensive tour and we felt a bit taken.
Review provided by Viator
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