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    Paestum

    Italy

    Paestum

    Point of InterestCulture

    Paestum is located in the coastal plain south of Salerno. Greek settlers from Sybaris founded the city around 600 BC as Poseidonia.

    by Felix Gillen

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    5. Italy
    7. Campania
    9. Paestum
    Paestum is located in the coastal plain south of Salerno. Greek settlers from Sybaris founded the city around 600 BC as Poseidonia. Three Doric temples from the period between approximately 550 and 450 BC are preserved in exceptionally good condition.The archaeological site is surrounded by an approximately 4.75-kilometer-long, largely preserved city wall and, together with the Cilento National Park, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

    Points of Interest

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Neptune Temple

    1Neptune Temple

    The most complete of the three Doric temples was built around 460 to 450 BC and is the only one still bearing most of its entablature. The traditional name Temple of Neptune is misleading; research now attributes it to Hera, hence it is also called the Second Temple of Hera. Right next to it stands the so-called Basilica, the city's oldest surviving temple, dating from around 550 BC.
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    Athena Temple

    2Athena Temple

    A temple north of the centre of the ancient city, dating from around 500 BC, built on the city's highest point. It was long considered a temple of Ceres. Christian graves in its floor indicate its use as a church during the Middle Ages.
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    Archaeological Park and Museum Paestum
    Museum

    3Archaeological Park and Museum Paestum

    The site comprises, besides the temples, the Forum, the foundations of numerous buildings, an amphitheater, of which only the western half is visible, and the largely preserved city wall. The National Museum exhibits finds from the city and necropoleis, including the frescoes of the Tomba del Tuffatore from around 470 BC and the metopes from the Sanctuary at the mouth of the Sele.
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    Dining & Drinks

    1

    Barlotti

    Italian restaurant on Via Torre di Paestum, between the archaeological site and the coast.
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    2

    La Bottega del Gusto

    Restaurant on Via Magna Graecia, opposite the archaeological site, near the Temple of Athena.
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    3

    Ristorante Bistrot73

    Restaurant on Via Tavernelle, north of the archaeological site.
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    Food and Drink

    The plain around Paestum is known for buffalo milk products.

    Mozzarella di bufala

    The Province of Salerno is part of the origin area of the protected Mozzarella di bufala campana.

    The History

    Poseidonia was founded around 600 BC by Greeks from Sybaris. Around 400 BC, the Lucanians took over the city; in 273 BC, it became a Roman colony as Paestum. In the early Middle Ages, the inhabitants abandoned the marshy, malaria-ridden site.Only in the 18th century, after the rediscovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum and with the construction of a new coastal road, did the temples come back into focus. In 1968, the Tomba del Tuffatore was found in a necropolis, its lid slab depicting a young man diving into water – a rare example of Greek painting with figural scenes.

    Getting Here & Around

    Paestum train station is located on the Naples–Salerno–Reggio Calabria line, directly east of the ancient city walls; from there, you walk to the archaeological site.By car, you can reach Paestum from Salerno via the coastal plain.

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    Nearby

    Amalfi Coast

    Amalfi Coast

    The Amalfi Coast is the southern edge of the Sorrentine Peninsula on the Gulf of Salerno, with approximately 40 kilometers of coastal road stretching between Positano and Vietri sul Mare. The mountains here drop steeply into the sea; lemon groves cling to the slopes, and densely built towns perch in the bays and on rocky promontories.The most famous are Positano, Amalfi, Atrani, and Ravello. Since 1997, the coast has been a UNESCO World Heritage site.
    Ravello

    Ravello

    Ravello is situated on a rocky plateau about 350 meters above the Amalfi Coast, above Atrani. This small town of around 2,300 residents is known for its villas, gardens, and panoramic terraces.In the Middle Ages, Ravello belonged to the Duchy of Amalfi; merchant families like the Rufolo built their palaces here. Today, Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone, and the summer Ravello Festival define the town.
    Positano

    Positano

    Positano lies on the western Amalfi Coast, its houses climbing from the sea far up the hillside. The colorful facades, Santa Maria Assunta's majolica dome, and the main beach below define the town's image.The town has about 3,700 residents. Most routes within the town are stairs and steep alleys.
    Pompeii

    Pompeii

    Pompeii was a Roman town at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, which disappeared under four to six meters of pumice and ash during the eruption in 79 AD. It has been excavated since 1748, revealing streets, houses, workshops, temples, theaters, and baths.The archaeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997, lies on the outskirts of the modern town of Pompei, southeast of Naples, about 35 to 40 minutes away via the Circumvesuviana.
    Sorrento

    Sorrento

    Sorrent is situated on a high tuff terrace, descending steeply towards the Gulf of Naples, overlooking Mount Vesuvius. This town of about 15,000 residents is the main hub of its namesake peninsula; travelers have been drawn here since the era of the Grand Tour.The Old Town's street network still adheres to the ancient city's grid layout. Citrus groves flourish all around. From Marina Piccola port, ships sail to Capri, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast.

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