October 23, 2024

Breakfast with Giovanna and her husband….and we’re off to see the Valley of the Temples. I’m excited.

The drive to the temples was short but the walk along the great wall was long (called the Via Sacra… the Sacred Way). Agrigento seen from the Via Sacra.

Olive trees line the entire walk….

Trees that are hundreds of years old.

(I see a baby elephant head coming out of this tree!)

This is another amazing olive tree that literally traces it’s roots!

To have a better understanding of the Valley of the Temples and their historic importance, we joined a group led by a local archaeologist that explained everything clearly. She started at the catacombs, where she explained that burial rituals changed from the Greeks to the Romans to the Christians.

Entrance to the catacombs:

The underground tombs have been dug out in various sizes and levels. During the time of the Greeks, this tomb for example, would have been used by a family. These are tombs created both for adult and children sizes, and some areas were filled with objects believed to be needed when the dead got to the other side. In the times of the Romans, these tombs were used basically in the same manner.

However, by the time the Christians began to populate the area and die, the tombs were used for multiple bodies, and no items were placed at the interior because the Christians professed poverty and humility.

We then started exploring the temples, and the first we visited was the Temple of Concordia.

The below picture represents how the temple looked when originally built. This is the only one of three to still be standing.

We then visited the temple of Juno (Hera).

Below again is a picture of how the original structure presented itself. Notice the telamon, statues of men that were used not only as decorative architectural elements, but also to hold up the superstructure.

One of the original telamons lays beside the temple. It demonstrates how huge and how massive these statues were.

Finally, we visited the temple of Hercules.

The Temple of Concordia, built by the Greeks in 440 BC, still stands today and has survived earthquakes and the test of time, because the temple was converted into a Christian basilica in the 6th century AD using the Roman method of building with arches. That is why we can still admire buildings like the Coliseum, the amphitheaters, and the great aqueducts that brought running water into the homes of the citizens of Rome.

Walking under the sun of Sicily gives one a hearty appetite. So we drove a little further down the coast to a town called Port Empedocle. And after lunch, we decided to have an espresso in a cafe` in the main Piazza.

Bride is on her way and guests arrive (groom looks nervous!)

Bride has arrived!

The sun was starting to slowly set and it was late afternoon…we decided there was enough time to see one more sight today….La Scala dei Turchi.

In reality, this area gets its name ‘the Turkish Steps’ because its natural shape allowed Saracen pirates (erroneously called Turks by the locals) to moor their ships, climb and quickly plunder the local villages. It’s splendid white rock formation illuminates the waters surrounding it.