The church rests on six columns of the original Doric temple, which are still visible in the current floor plan.
The floor incorporates glass panels that allow visitors to look down into the archaeological excavation site below.
The building was constructed during the Norman period, likely between the 12th and 13th centuries.
It served as the cathedral of Agrigento for a period before the main cathedral was relocated to its current site.
Evidence suggests the site functioned as a Greek temple, then a Byzantine church, and finally a Catholic place of worship.
The interior contains frescoes dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, some showing Byzantine influence.
The Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Greci is a medieval church built directly over the ruins of an ancient Doric temple, believed to be the Temple of Athena from the 5th century BC. Visitors can view the ancient Greek temple foundations and columns through a glass floor section inside the nave. The architecture reflects a layered history, featuring a Gothic-style portal and a 14th-century wooden ceiling. Excavations revealed that the church's orientation aligns with the original Greek structure rather than traditional Christian east-west orientation. Remnants of painted plaster and inscriptions from the ancient temple are preserved on-site. The site highlights the continuity of sacred space in Agrigento from the Greek period through the Byzantine, Norman, and medieval eras. It stands as a unique archaeological site where structural remains from antiquity and the Middle Ages coexist.
The interior view looking down through the glass floor at the Doric column base.
Use the glass floor sections to examine the Greek stylobate clearly.
Look for the external stone block near the entrance inscribed with Greek letters.
Combine this visit with a trip to the Valley of the Temples to understand the broader archaeological context of Agrigento.
Do not attempt to walk down into the excavation pit, as access is restricted to protected walkways.
Modest dress is required; ensure shoulders and knees are covered as this is a consecrated religious site.
