Agrigento

I arrived in Agrigento that afternoon, dropped my stuff off  at the B&B, and headed right out to the temples.  There is a shuttle bus that takes you down a couple of miles to the temples, but I decided to just walk.

The Valley of the Temples as seen from the bus.

Walking down the hill to the temples.

Agrigento is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., Agrigento became one of the leading cities in the Mediterranean world. Selected excavated areas throw light on the later Hellenistic and Roman town and the burial practices of its early Christian inhabitants.

 Temple of Juno:  Built in the 5th century BC and burnt in 406 BC by the Carthaginians. It measures 38.15 x 16.90 m. It was usually used for the celebration of weddings.

Temple of Concordia:  The setting of this building is unique in the world. Ratios are simple and proportions are perfect. Erected around 430 B.C., it is 19.8m X 42.2m, with a height of 13.5m.  The fence is a little over waist high.

Its name comes from a Latin inscription found nearby. It was turned into a church in the 6th century AD, it is now one of the best preserved in the Valley.

Temple of Heracles: he was one of the most venerated deities in the ancient Akragas. It is the most ancient in the Valley. Destroyed by an earthquake, it consists today of only eight columns.  On the eastern side are remains of the large altar.

This was some bizarre sculpture.  Dragon girl is wearing tennis shoes.  There is an exploding volcano, dinosaurs, tanks...weird.

North to the Tempio L are the corner of "Temple of Castor and Pollux", which is in a fact a modern reconstruction from the early 19th century, created using pieces from various other temples. 

It was getting dark and cold.  I couldn't figure out where to catch the bus, so I started walking.  I stopped at a small store in hopes of getting a cab the rest of the way back to town.  A nice old couple gave me some numbers, but I couldn't get through to anyone.  As a last ditch effort, I put on my gps on my Sa,sung.  I only had 9% of the battery yet.  Thankfully, it showed a zig-zaggy short cut up some steps.  I started to run.  1. because my battery was almost dead and I didn't want to end up lost.  2. Becuase I was scared shitless.  The battery died, just as I made it to the top; safety!  ahhh.

Getting dark and cold.  Nice view though!

My cute bed and breakfast.