Sensory Garden at Valley of the Temples to Open by September 2022

A multisensory garden will open by September 2022 at the Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park in Agrigento, Sicily. The 'Giardino Sensoriale' will engage all five senses—sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing—through Mediterranean flora, water features, and local birds. The project is part of the broader 'Five Senses for Seven Sites' initiative, funded by Italy's Ministry of Culture and the Regional Department of Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity, aimed at enhancing accessibility at UNESCO sites in Sicily. Designed by art historian Giada Cantamessa with technical execution by architect Guido Meli, the garden will occupy 2,000 square meters in front of Casa Pace, opposite the Temple of Concordia, with access from the Via Sacra. It will feature tactile models of major monuments with Braille labels and electronic audio guides, developed with the CNR Institute for Educational Technology in Genoa and the Chiossone Institute. The garden aims to break cognitive and physical barriers, offering an immersive experience blending nature and archaeology. Sicilian Cultural Heritage Assessor Alberto Samonà highlighted the garden as an added value to the UNESCO-recognized site.