Paestum

Paestum is an ancient Greek and Roman archaeological site on the Tyrrhenian coast of Campania in southern Italy, notable for its exceptionally well-preserved Doric temples dating to the 6th and 5th centuries BCE. The site also includes remains of the ancient city and an archaeological museum that holds important finds.

The central attractions are three main Doric temples: the 6th-century BCE Temple of Hera (often called the Basilica), the mid-5th-century BCE Temple of Neptune (Poseidon), and a smaller temple to Athena/Ceres. The museum displays tomb paintings and artifacts, including the famous Tomb of the Diver dated to about 470 BCE.

Founded by Greek colonists as Poseidonia in the Archaic period, the city later came under Roman control and was renamed Paestum. The site declined in late antiquity; major excavations and interest resumed in the 18th century when its monumental ruins were brought to wider attention.

Paestum lies in Campania on the coastal plain between the modern towns of Capaccio and the Gulf of Salerno. The archaeological park and museum are adjacent to the modern settlement known as Paestum/Capaccio.

• Archaeological highlights: The site preserves multiple well-preserved Doric temples from the 6th and 5th centuries BCE and an on-site museum with important Greek-period frescoes and artifacts.
• Notable discovery: The Tomb of the Diver, found near Paestum, is a rare intact Greek-era frescoed tomb dated to about 470 BCE and displayed in the museum.

What to See #

• Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Paestum: A large archaeological museum housing finds from the site, including Greek and Roman-era pottery, sculptures and the famous Tomb of the Diver fresco dated to around the late 5th century BCE.
• Temple of Hera (Basilica): A Doric temple usually called the Temple of Hera (often called the Basilica) dating to the 6th century BCE, notable for its early Doric proportions and column spacing.
• Temple of Neptune (Poseidon): A large mid-5th century BCE Doric temple commonly identified as the Temple of Neptune (or Poseidon), one of the best-preserved Greek temples in Italy.
• Temple of Athena (Ceres): A smaller temple to the north, identified with Athena or Ceres, built in the late 6th to 5th centuries BCE, and part of the central sacred area of the ancient city.