Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Greci

Church of Santa Maria dei Greci: A hidden gem worth a visit. I recently visited the church of Santa Maria dei Greci and I must say that it is a true hidden gem, worth a visit if you are in Agrigento. The church is located in a somewhat remote location, but accessing it is easy and worth the effort. Inside, the atmosphere is truly evocative and the history of the place can be felt in every corner. The frescoes, decorations and the structure of the church itself tell the story of centuries of history and the cultures that have converged here. It is an experience that truly transports you back in time. The most interesting element is undoubtedly the opportunity to see the ruins of the Doric temple on which the church was built. It is fascinating to see how the foundations of the Greek temple have been incorporated into the medieval structure, creating a unique fusion of different eras and styles. The only downside, which I was really disappointed with, was that the elevator was not working. For those with mobility issues or who simply prefer to avoid stairs, this is a real drawback and a service that should never be missing from a place of such historical and cultural importance. I sincerely hope that it is repaired as soon as possible, as it prevents some people from fully enjoying this heritage. Despite this minor inconvenience, the visit was very enjoyable and I highly recommend it. If you are passionate about history, art and archaeology, you should not miss it.

amazing places, remember to visit the museum part as well.

Ok, it's yet another church, one that you have to pay for! But you get a miny vr experience that's novel and you get to climb two bell towers (only the one closer to the entrance is worth it). Entrance fee is part of the combo ticket from valley of the temples. In retrospect I would just done the valley and (the recommended) archeological museum in only.

Wonderful ancient greek church

Very interesting and beautiful place. You can see and get close to the typical three steps of the Greek temple upon which the church is erected. The curch itself is a welcome difference to the baroque churches of Sicily with a rather humble decor and also murals dating almost a thousand years old and the glass floor, allowing you to see the underground of the church. The courtyard in front of the church is also beautiful and gets visited by cats, which I love. Best thing was the ticket vendor though. As all the staff of the church sights in Agrigento he was very friendly and helpful. Also well versed in English and apparently all Roman languages. He took his time to answer all questions I had regarding the church and the town. Clearly a professional in thing regarding archeology and history. I asked him a out a full 20 minutes.

Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Greci was a simple yet memorable church. The fact that it was built over the foundation of an ancient Greek temple was particularly interesting. The preserved foundation was visible from above through a glass floor, and there have been ongoing restoration efforts. During one such restoration, a "putridarium" was uncovered. Per Wikipedia, a putridarium was a temporary burial place where bodies, commonly of monks or nuns, could be stored. This underground crypt in the Church of St. Mary of the Greeks was where members of the Brotherhood of Santa Maria dei Greci were allowed to dry, sitting on chairs made from living rock, to reach a proper stage of decomposition before the bones were collected for burial. We found it to be quite an intriguing approach to burial rites.

Charming old church. Full of character. So much history here. I wish I had more time for the visit. I paid €6 for an all-in-one ticket to visit Mudia, the Cathedral and the Church of Santa Maria deli Grechi (November 2022). (The staff informed us that the church will be closed for one month from 3 November 2022 for restoration/renovation works. Best to check website before visiting.)

Glass floor make this temple special.