The Valley of Temples has been listed among UNESCO sites in December 1997, during the annual meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which took place in Naples in Italy (from 1 to 6 December 1997)

“The great row of Doric temples is one of the most outstanding monuments of Greek art and culture. The archaeological area of Agrigento exhibits an important interchange of human values, being undoubtedly one of the leading cities in the Mediterranean region with its outstanding evidence of Greek influence. As one of the greatest cities of the ancient Mediterranean region, Agrigento is an extraordinary testament of Greek civilization in its exceptionally preserved condition. The temples in the area exemplify Greek architecture and are considered to be among the most extraordinary representations of Doric architecture in the world.”