Introduction

Kolymbetra Garden, located within the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily, is a remarkable site where history and nature converge to offer visitors a unique experience. Originally serving as a water source for the ancient Greek city of Akragas in the 6th century B.C., Kolymbetra has evolved through time from a large pool or fishpond into a lush garden that captures the essence of Sicilian landscape and history.

Origin of the Name

“Kolymbetra” is derived from the Greek word “κολυμβήθρα” (kolymbethra), which translates to “diving” or “reservoir.” This name aptly reflects the site’s original purpose as a large basin or pool constructed to collect and distribute water, serving as a vital resource for the ancient Greek city of Akragas.

Exploring the History

Its creation dates back to when the Greeks colonized Sicily around 500 B.C. Back then, the tyrant Theron tasked the architect Phaeace with designing a comprehensive water system to supply the ancient city of Akragas, now known as Agrigento. This initiative laid the foundation for what would become the garden and the surrounding area’s irrigation system, emphasizing its pivotal role in the local community and the city’s overall functionality. Over time, the Kolymbethra, became an agricultural marvel, particularly famed for its citrus orchards introduced during the Arab rule. The garden became a lush oasis, maintained through various epochs, including ownership by the Church and its bloom in the 19th century as a highlight of the Grand Tour.

Restoration and Revival

By the late 20th century, Kolymbetra fell into neglect until the FAI (Italian National Trust for the Environment) stepped in, in 1999, to restore its splendor. Thanks to FAI’s efforts, visitors today can enjoy the historic, five-hectare garden replete with ancient aqueducts, terraces, and a variety of Mediterranean foliage, surrounded by the ruins of ancient temples.

Vegetation

The botanical wealth of Kolymbetra is categorized into five distinct areas: citrus groves, an almond-olive grove, Mediterranean scrub, riparian vegetation, and rocky/dry environment vegetation. The garden is filled with a vast and ancient variety of fragrant and flavorful fruits that are resistant to disease, based on agronomic technologies and genetic resources which are not adequate for the dominant needs of a global market and production efficiency.

Although the most widespread of the species grown here are citrus fruits, there are also many other fruit species, revealing a high level of specific biodiversity: azarole, banana, carob, quince, fig, prickly pear, white mulberry, black mulberry, persimmon, pomegranate, loquat, medlar, pistachio, and mountain ash. In general, each species is represented by ancient varieties which are largely no longer cultivated in modern fruit growing systems.

The varieties of citrus in the garden have been studied at both morphological and molecular levels. These ancient citrus varieties were once a necessary and functional part of the agricultural system, in which variability made it possible to have genotypes suitable for the growing environment, resistant to adversity, with nutritional and qualitative characteristics suited to the needs of both farmers and markets. Varieties of orange including Sanguigno and Sanguigno Doppio, Sanguinello Moscato, Ovale, Moro, Brazilian, Vaniglia Apireno and Vaniglia Sanguigno, as well as the common Femminello lemon and the Avana mandarin, identified in the Kolymbethra and represented by centuries-old trees, testify to the ancient genetic wealth that was in danger of disappearing following decades of neglect and abandonment which engulfed the garden before the recovery of its environment and landscape.

In the citrus growing systems of Isola, these varieties, like many others, are unfortunately now being made obsolete by increasingly dynamic variety upgrades, and are found only as scattered plants in the old citrus groves, or in amateur gardens or collections held at public institutions. The genetic erosion to which they are subjected is the prelude to their definitive disappearance, and concerns precisely genetic entities which, although not all of them have ever been cultivated in real systems, have a high historical as well as genetic value. Some of these varieties are represented within the garden by large trees that still bear the wounds of agricultural abandonment on their trunks. They represent a valuable genetic, as well as historical and cultural, heritage that must be preserved, maintained and enhanced. This puts the garden at odds with intensive modern monocultural fruit facilities, which may be more productive and efficient, but which are devoid of all the smells, flavors, colors, and shapes that only traditional agricultural landscapes can preserve because they are repositories of biodiversity, ancient knowledge, production values, environmental and cultural concerns and a way of life that are disappearing.

Visiting the Garden

Kolymbetra Garden opens its gates to the public with seasonal operational hours and a nominal entry fee. The garden offers a myriad of sensory experiences, from the aroma of orange blossoms to the haunting silence of its underground chambers, known as hypogea, which are open for exploration with prior booking. For a comprehensive visit, combined tickets are also available, providing access to the nearby Valley of the Temples and the Temple of Vulcan.

How to Get There

Located within the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily, Kolymbetra Garden is accessible from both entrances to the site. The closest one is Porta V or Gate 5 where you can park your car.

Entry Tickets

Admission fees are modest, ensuring all can enjoy this hidden gem. Adult tickets are priced at €6:00, while children (6-17 years) can enter for €2.00. The FAI members and National Trust members enjoy free entry. Remember that you have to purchase also the entry ticket to the site!

If you love nature, history, and culture all mixed together, Kolymbetra Gardens is the perfect place for you. Whether you’re attracted to its peaceful beauty, curious about its ancient past, or just want a break from busy city life, Kolymbetra is sure to make a lasting impression on you. So, come and explore a journey back in time and uncover the magical beauty of Sicily’s secret paradise.