Paestum

Paestum is an ancient city in Campania, southern Italy, located near Capaccio-Paestum in the province of Salerno, about 85 kilometers southeast of Naples. It is renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved Greek temples, remnants of the ancient city originally known as Poseidonia.

Poseidonia was founded by Greek colonists in the 6th century BCE and grew into a prosperous city on the coastal plain. It was conquered by the Romans in 273 BCE and renamed Paestum. Over time the site declined, but the surrounding marshy soil helped preserve the temples. In later centuries, investigations and excavations gradually revealed the city’s plan and monuments.

The Archaeological Park of Paestum preserves three major Doric temples dating from the 6th to 4th centuries BCE: the Temple of Hera I (the Basilica), built about 550 BCE; the Temple of Hera II, circa 450 BCE; and the Temple of Neptune (Poseidon), the largest, built around 450 BCE. In addition to the temples, the site includes remains of city walls, a forum, and a necropolis. The Paestum area is also noted for painted tombs from the nearby burial grounds; the Tomb of the Diver and related painted tombs are housed in the Paestum Archaeological Museum.

Paestum lies within the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its archaeological value. The site attracts scholars and visitors who study ancient Greek urbanism and temple architecture and explore the nearby museum and coastal landscape.