Agrigento visit, Valley of the Temples and Turkish Steps

The Valley of the Temples and the Turkish Steps are one of the most beautiful hotpots in Sicily. Antonio took care of every detail to make a great experience for all of us. Everything was perfect. Antonio even took the time to take as close as possible to my apartment to spare me a 5 minutes walk under the rain.

One of the largest archaeological sites in the Mediterranean and a UNESCO world heritage site. The site has 8 temples, constructed in dedication to Greek Gods 2500 years ago, with impressive sections still standing, and evidence of collapsed temples still remain. It is considered second to Athens’ Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

It was a fascinating part of our stay, and a unique opportunity to be absorbed in history and witness 1st hand how temples were constructed. Advice is to arrive early in the day, or later, avoiding midday sun as there is little shade and a lot of walking.

Scala Dei Turchi - interpreted as Turkish Stairs one of mothers natures gifts. Steps made from granite and chalk that shelter the sea. Access is via a steep stepped path, so requires reasonable fitness to complete. Parking is available on the roadside above, but was very busy when we visited in late August. We were also unable to access the stairs as it has been cordoned off, but was able to get close to see the beautiful landmark.

Worth visiting both on the same day.

Good experience for this trip…

The Valley of the Temples is certainly the most important testimony of the ancient, classical culture of Sicily...

Turkish Steps is the good view

We wanted to see as much of Sicily as possible during our week there, so this trip was a must, and it didn't disappoint.

The pickup point was easy to find from our accommodations in Catania, and we left early for the two hour plus ride across the island to Agrigento. Fortunately, our guide Daniele spoke fluent English and was a big fan of American TV and movies, so we chatted happily the whole way, making the time pass quickly while taking in the beautiful countryside.

Our first stop was the Valley of the Temples, where the Greek ruins were spread out across a stretch of land with breath-taking views. Prepare for this portion of the trip by bringing a hat, sunscreen and a bottle of water. Fortunately, all of these were on sale where we entered the park and bought our tickets, and there was a small cafe about half way through the park where we were able to stop, rest and have a cool granita di limone before moving on.

The next stop was lunch, which we ate out in front of a nearby pasticceria. The meal was pizza and focaccia, along with very good Sicilian wine and plenty of water to re-hydrate after our walk in the sun, followed up by sweets. We took advantage of the opportunity to purchase a beautiful tart for dessert for our dinner at home that night, along with a bag of cookies - just in case.

After lunch we headed to the beach, and the Turkish Steps. This part of the trip involved walking down several flights of stairs to the sand and then a good distance down the shore to reach the Turkish Steps. I let my husband go alone on that hike, which he pronounced well worth the effort, and settled happily under an umbrella with a coffee to watch the sun bathers come and go. After more water and a rest stop, we loaded back up for the ride home, tired but happy.

We were anxious to see these particular sites, and we're glad we went. I will warn other travelers that this trip involves a long van ride and a lot of walking in the sun, with both stairs and ramps. It might not be a great fit for those with very small children or for whom a full day of walking it a little too much. But if you are fit, or just determined to see some of the best preserved Greek ruins anywhere in the world, this trip is for you.

Roberto is a wonderful tour guide! He showed up promptly at the time specified and because I was sitting up front and had tons of questions he gave me a little tour of Catania as well. He’s also very knowledgeable about geology so was able to point out interesting outcrops along the way to Agrigento. Temple Valley is a must see on your visit to Sicily. I’ve been all over Greece so I feel pretty well versed when it comes to Greek temples...these were the best! So well preserved! If you’re a speed walker and love geology make a beeline to the gardens. However, two hours isn’t enough time to spend a lot of time at each temple and visit the gardens. I was practically running at one point. Wear layers! If your from a cold climate and come in April you’ll be hot by the time noon rolls around. I burned my shoulders a little in fact (15 SPF doesn’t cut it apparently). The Turkish Steps were the highlight of my day though...a stroll on the beach after a yummy snack was perfect! Some of the best pictures I’ve taken so far this trip are of the beach, sea, and the Turkish Steps. An incredible value for the money I paid. Only took off a star because I had to sit in the middle seat in the front. Not comfortable for a 2 hour drive to and 2 hours back.

The Valley of the Temples is more than impressive and it is advisable to go there in the morning, as we did, before it becomes too hot. However WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME THERE - barely 1¼ hours by the time we had passed the security check and queued for tickets even though there really were not too many people waiting. I had wanted to have a guide (not expensive), but at least 1½ hours were needed for a guided tour, so I had to forgo the idea. Having said that, the descriptive plaques in front of each temple and exhibit were very informative.

What was frustrating was that we had TOO MUCH TIME at the also impressive Turkish Steps - 2½ hours to kill. The short walk along the beach brought you to the fenced-off amazing white rock formation that was only accessible if you had brought your swimming gear to circumvent the fence. A refreshing drink at a beach bar proved a nice way of passing the time though.