One of the best Classical sites in southern Italy, Paestum has a fine collection of Doric temples - three dating from around the sixth century BC, and respectively dedicated to Athena, Hera and Apollo (though careless 18th century historians had attributed them to Ceres and Neptune). And remarkably, only around 25 hectares of the estimated 120 hectare site has been uncovered as yet, with the old temples being gradually reconstructed.
The city was the ancient Poseidonia, and founded by Greeks from Sybarus in the sixth century BC. The Romans colonised Paestum around 300 years later, but by the early Middle Ages Paestum was lost ... not to be rediscovered until the 18th century, as a new road was being driven through this part of southern Campania. There are painted tombs, a fine museum too, with Greek tomb paintings and other relics recovered from the site. South and east of here you have the Parco Nazionale del Cilento e Vallo di Diano, a lovely stretch of national park. Thickly wooded with chestnut and olive trees and a beautiful stretch of mountainous littoral. And just west you have the modern seaside town of Licinella-Torre di Paestum. The first town of any size you hit down the coast is Agropoli, which sits at the start of the Cilento.
To the left you'll find a selection of hotels, to get you in the mood
- see also our full listings of Paestum hotels.
