Travel Photo Friday: The Valley of the Temples

October 16, 2009

We now know why The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is one of those "must see" sites on Sicily. It is magnificent. It was worth every minute of the crazy drive(a little detour to find the agriturissimo where we were spending the night), to look up and see these dramatic Greek ruins emerging on the horizon. And it got even better as we got closer.

A few tips to share from our experience:

-Buy your entrance ticket in the parking lot across the street.

-If traveling with young kids, be sure to pack a carrier or consider bringing a jogging stroller (something beyond just the basic umbrella). There are paths but they aren't smooth and it is much easier to explore with the flexibility of a better stroller or carrier. This is not a small site and kids will get tired.

-Light sabers are optional, but they did enhance the experience for a certain six year old boy. Not to mention the funny family pics! This is a wonderful place for kids to run, jump, and explore but keep a close eye on little ones. There are some sheer drop offs and the potential for some serious injuries, not to mention some heart stopping moments for mamas of little dare devils.

-Try to plan your visit late in the afternoon. We arrived as most of the large tour groups were leaving. The late afternoon light was that gorgeous, golden hue and as we rambled around we were treated to a beautiful sunset followed by watching the ruins being lit up for the night. A very dramatic time to be in the Valley of the Temples, cooler temperatures, and it felt as if we had the place to ourselves.

-If you forget to pack water or snacks, there is a nice little cafe within the park and there is also one in the parking area.

Overall,we were very impressed with this site. It was well maintained, easy to navigate, and quite an awe-inspiring glimpse back in time. We can't wait to return.

To read more about some of the ancient spots around Sicily, go here. To see more Friday Travel pics go here.
Tisra said...

BREATHTAKING!!! I want to go there!!! (I want to go everywhere!)

Tisra
knocking India off "the list" this week and bringing home the most gorgeous of daughters home forever!

Amy @ The Q Family said...

Wow! What a view! Love all the tips especially the light sabers. Very cute family picture indeed. :)

Unknown said...

Like the idea of a cafe located in the park. Great view would have been great to have seen it in person.

Linda said...

Beautiful photos, and thanks for the going-with-kids tips.

MansTouch said...

A well planned trip is an enjoyable and exciting adventure. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
-----
The Truth About Paris

holly b said...

beautiful photos and lighting. don't think we'll be headed there anytime soon, but good tips!

marina villatoro said...

What a great place! I love family outings like this, they are what make life amazing!!!

likeschocolate said...

It looks beautiful. Thanks about the advise about strollers etc. It is always nice to be prepared before going somewhere. We went to the acropolis last year and my husband and I had to trade off seeing the ruins because no strollers were allowed.

Manny said...

I'm so glad you chose this as one of the first places to go to. I regret we never made it down there - the temples alone would have been enough for me. Great fun no doubt...

Heather on her travels said...

I'm going to have to check out the cheap flights to Sicily - I was listening to a podcast about it recently - apparently where the Italian tour guides go for their holidays.

http://europe.amateurtraveler.com/2009/08/29/travel-to-sicily-in-italy-episode-197/

maria said...

Great photos, I love the last one with the temple seen from the distance and the dramatic sky at dusk. Thanks for sharing.

Dominique said...

It looks like a great time of day to go to this place...the light looked amazing in the photos.

Emily said...

These picture are spectacular. I'm so glad you guys had fun!

Emily said...

ah! valley of the temples is what really piqued my interest on that podcast about sicily. i adore ruins. sicily is creeping closer and closer to the top of our "to-visit" list! :)

マキガイ said...

Hi this is Deki. Happy new year.

I visited your page after a long while. I was just thinking of the holiday season which you let me stay at your place in Okinawa. It was so fun and warm......And now, Noah is such a big brother, Camille is four, and you guys are in Sicily!? It is so nice to see you guys doing well. The pictures are very beautiful.

I'm now doing residency in pathology in NY. It snowed last night. The city is still decorated with illuminations.

Hope to see you again sometime.

Irreverent Italy said...

Amazing shots and what a neat family! Actually, the audioguide at Agrigento is pretty spectacular too (full disclosure: I produced it -- but it garners rave reviews....)
http://www.touringtracks.com

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