In the Valley of the Gods—so named since the days when Agrigento was known by its ancient Greek moniker, Akragas—history and beauty come together in a sublime blend. This evocative name was bestowed by its Greek founders, who transformed the landscape into a Sicilian jewel.

Most people know it as the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the capital of one of Sicily’s nine provinces. Situated in the southern part of the island, Agrigento overlooks the Mediterranean Sea—a dual-stage that both enchants its visitors and brings sorrow to those who cross it, not as tourists but as individuals escaping dire conditions of poverty, war, and despair.