Autodromo Valle dei Templi
Autodromo Valle dei Templi at a glance
- Location
- Racalmuto, Sicily
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 2.49 km (1.548 mi)
- Turns
- 11
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 2005
- Owner
- Program Group Racing Engineering Srl
- Website
- autodromovalledeitempli.com
Track map and layout
Autodromo Valle dei Templi is Sicily's only permanent racing circuit, running 2.490 km clockwise with 11 corners (eight right-handers and three left-handers) on a minimum width of 12 metres, built into the countryside near Racalmuto between Agrigento and Caltanissetta. A 650-metre main straight leads into a technical, undulating infield, giving the track a genuine test of both top speed and precision that has drawn manufacturer and tyre testing, including sessions by Pirelli, since it opened. Its relative isolation on the island has kept the circuit primarily a national and regional venue rather than a fixture of top-tier Italian championships.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full circuit | 2.49 km | 2.490 km, 11 turns, the only configuration in current use |
Events and race weekends
The circuit has mainly hosted motorcycle competitions under the Italian motorcycling federation (FMI), along with a shorter run of car racing organised within ACI Sport, alongside regular manufacturer and tyre testing. Its current calendar is built around club and endurance-style car events (Hours Run, Time Attack), motorcycle track days and regional racing team activity, rather than national championship rounds.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours Run | Endurance / club car racing | varies | |
| Time Attack | Time-attack car events | varies | |
| Track Day Moto | Motorcycle track days | varies |
Getting there and parking
The circuit sits on the SS 640 between Agrigento and Caltanissetta, in central Sicily, roughly 30 km north-east of Agrigento. Palermo's airport is the main international gateway to the island and involves a drive of about 1.5-2 hours; Catania's airport offers a similar drive time from the other direction. Sicily's rail network does not reach the circuit directly, so a hire car is essential for visitors arriving by train or air.
- Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport (PMO) · about 110 min drive
- Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) · about 100 min drive
Parking
Free general parking is available on-site for spectators and event participants.
Hire a car at Palermo or Catania airport; the circuit's inland location in central Sicily has no rail access and limited public transport.
Hotels and camping near Autodromo Valle dei Templi
Agrigento, about 30-40 minutes away and famous for the Valley of the Temples archaeological site the circuit takes its name from, is the most practical and appealing base, combining a wide choice of hotels with one of Sicily's major tourist attractions. Racalmuto itself and smaller towns nearby offer limited accommodation for visitors wanting to stay closer to the track.
Where to look
Agrigento offers the widest hotel choice and is a worthwhile stop in its own right for the Valley of the Temples; Racalmuto has a small number of local options for those staying nearer the circuit.
Camping
No dedicated trackside camping facilities at the circuit.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Valle dei Templi runs a regular programme of track days for both cars and motorcycles through the year, alongside club endurance and time-attack car events, making it the default circuit for drivers and riders across Sicily. Because it is the island's only permanent racing facility, it also sees steady use for manufacturer and tyre testing.
Who runs days here
Spectator guide
As Sicily's only permanent circuit, Valle dei Templi draws a loyal regional following for its club car and motorcycle race weekends, with general admission viewing around the pit straight and several of the circuit's technical infield corners. Crowds are modest by mainland Italian standards, and the venue's remote, countryside setting keeps the atmosphere low-key outside its biggest race weekends.
Seating
General admission areas along the 650-metre main straight and infield give views of most of the lap; no large permanent grandstands.
Best places to watch
The main straight and the corners leading into it offer the best combination of top-speed action and overtaking opportunities.
Weather
- spring/autumn: mild, highs typically 18-24°C
- summer: very hot, highs often 32-36°C
History of Autodromo Valle dei Templi
Sicily's first permanent racing circuit
Autodromo Valle dei Templi opened in July 2005 in the countryside near Racalmuto, between Agrigento and Caltanissetta, built by Program Group Racing Engineering Srl to give Sicily its first purpose-built permanent racing circuit. Named for the nearby Valley of the Temples, one of the island's best-known archaeological sites, the 2.490 km track with its 650-metre main straight quickly became the focal point for Sicilian motorsport, hosting motorcycle racing under the Italian motorcycling federation and a period of car racing organised within ACI Sport, alongside regular manufacturer and tyre testing including work by Pirelli.
Judicial seizure and years of uncertainty
In March 2018 Italian authorities seized the circuit as part of an anti-mafia asset-confiscation measure targeting a minority shareholder in the owning company, placing the facility under judicial administration for the next eight years. The circuit continued to operate through this period under court-appointed management, but the legal cloud over its ownership limited investment and long-term planning.
Return to its owners
In 2026 the Palermo Court of Appeal revoked the confiscation, ruling that the evidence did not establish that mafia-linked capital had been reinvested through the shareholding in question, and the circuit was returned to the full control of Program Group Racing Engineering's shareholders after eight years of judicial administration. With the ownership question resolved, the circuit continues to run its programme of club car and motorcycle events, track days and testing, remaining Sicily's only permanent racing facility and a rare motorsport foothold on an island otherwise absent from Italy's national circuit map.
Frequently asked questions
Is Autodromo Valle dei Templi still operating?+
Yes. The circuit remains active, running club car and motorcycle race weekends, time-attack and endurance events, track days and manufacturer testing throughout the year.
How long is the Valle dei Templi circuit?+
The circuit is 2.490 km (1.548 miles) long with 11 turns, run clockwise, and includes a 650-metre main straight.
Why was the circuit seized by authorities?+
In March 2018 Italian authorities placed the circuit under judicial administration as part of an anti-mafia asset-confiscation measure targeting a minority shareholder in the owning company. In 2026 the Palermo Court of Appeal revoked the confiscation and returned the circuit to its shareholders.
Is Valle dei Templi the only racing circuit in Sicily?+
Yes, it is widely described as Sicily's only permanent racing circuit, making it the default venue for car and motorcycle motorsport on the island.
What is the nearest airport to Valle dei Templi?+
Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport and Catania-Fontanarossa Airport are both roughly 1.5-2 hours' drive; Agrigento, about 30-40 minutes from the circuit, is the most practical base.
Can the public drive at Valle dei Templi?+
Yes. The circuit runs regular track days for both cars and motorcycles as part of its event calendar.
Other tracks nearby
- Autodromo di Pergusa · 51 km · dormant
- Autodromo del Levante · 476 km · road course
- Circuito Cittadino dell'EUR · 506 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi · 544 km · road course
- Circuito di Pescara · 567 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Autodromo dell'Umbria Mario Umberto Borzacchini · 651 km · road course
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.