After a restful night in the countryside, we made our way to one of Sicily’s most awe-inspiring sights—the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. With a fantastic guide leading the way, we explored the sprawling archaeological park, home to some of the best-preserved Greek ruins in the world.
It’s hard to believe, but this UNESCO World Heritage site was privately owned until 1997. Today, it’s open to all, and standing in the shadow of the Temple of Concordia, with its perfectly preserved columns, feels like brushing up against the ancient world.
Near the temple lies the striking Icarus statue, a bronze giant seemingly fallen from the sky. Reclining in the dirt, broken and powerful, it perfectly captures the myth’s tragic beauty—and makes for an unforgettable photo.
After the tour, we sampled a local specialty: arancini made with black rice and pistachio, a delicious twist on the Sicilian classic. Then it was off to the coast to visit the Scala dei Turchi—the “Turkish Stairs.”
The name might make you think of modern-day Turkey, but here’s the twist: in Sicilian history, the word “Turks” was often used broadly to describe any Muslim raiders, especially those from North Africa during the 16th and 17th centuries. While most of these pirates weren’t actually Turkish, the name stuck—a reminder of Sicily’s long and layered history with the Mediterranean world.
We ended the day with some relaxing beach time at the foot of the cliffs, soaking in the sun and sea with the bright white Scala glowing behind us.
Sicily keeps outdoing itself—one ancient wonder and seaside sunset at a time.
Hermes in the back of Icarus.Arancini are Italian rice balls, that are coated in bread crumbs and deep fried. They can be stuffed with a ragu (meaty tomato sauce), mozzarella or other cheese, ham and cheese, or vegetables.Scooter tour through the Valley of the Temples.These 1/2 moon shapes signifies the tomb of a person high in society.The temple of Concordia was named this not for a specific god, as traditionally done, but for the Greek word that means pact and coming together. This is the BEST preserved Greek temple in the world. Part of the credit goes to the Romans who covered up the temple to mimic more Christian architecture. In 1788 the Prince of Torremuzza removed the remaining vestiges of the Christian church to unveil what we see today. It wasn’t protected by a National park until the 1980s and suffered some internal graffiti and carvings. Much of this area is yet to be excavated.Ancient endangers goats brought from the Afghanistan region.Fun story from the guide. These statues were so expensive to build that they were made generically and as various Emperors and leaders emerged, the heads would rotate. If a messenger from the emperors office would appear, they’d put the emperors head on the statute and read it aloud. The guide told us to think of it as ancient video conferencing. Clever!The temple of Concordia was named this not for a specific god, as traditionally done, but for the Greek word that means pact and coming together. This is the BEST preserved Greek temple in the world. Part of the credit goes to the Romans who covered up the temple to mimic more Christian architecture. In 1788 the Prince of Torremuzza removed the remaining vestiges of the Christian church to unveil what we see today. It wasn’t protected by a National park until the 1980s and suffered some internal graffiti and carvings. Much of this area is yet to be excavated.The stairs of the Turks got their name because Turkish pirates would use this as a safe harbor 🏴☠️
