There’s a lot to love here in Sicily. The food has been wonderful. The scenery is amazing. And yesterday we went to the Valley of Temples, world-class Greek ruins in Agrigento. When I say they practically define our cultural heritage, that’s particularly true – the Temple of Concordia there is one of the finest Greek temples still standing and is in fact the model on which UNESCO’s World Heritage logo based. Apparently the temple is built on solid rock with a layer of soft ground under that absorbs tremors, so while other temples crashed in various earthquakes over the millennia, this one has stood firm. The fact that it was converted to a Christian church in the late sixth century probably didn’t hurt it’s survival prospects, either. It’s in remarkable shape for something built 2,500 years ago!
Mosaic from Roger II’s chapel in Palermo
Distant view of the Temple of Concordia in Agrigento
Olive tree estimated to be 500 to 600 years old. Seriously.
Mark outside the Temple of Hercules
Temple of Concordia
Mark digging around in the ruins
I’ve eaten more octopus while here in the Mediterranean than you could imagine. Here you’ll see Mark caught me having a conversation with my meal.