Paestum

Located at approximately 2 hours drive from Ravello.

Paestum was founded by the Greeks around 600 b.c. near the mouth of the river Sele. It was called Poseidonia in honour of Poseidon, the God of the sea (Neptune for the Romans), of that sea they had crossed under his divine protection and had been the source of their prosperity. The Etruscan influence on the areas of the right side of the Sele and the surrounding territories had considerably decreased. Poseidonia took advantage of this occasion and dominated the whole area. At the same time it strengthened and extended its influence, since Syris, a Greek town on the Ionic Sea had been destroyed. Later on, on the 510 b.c., Sybaris too was completely destroyed, and Poseidonia then flourished economically and politically, in spite of the opposition of other colonies.

Most probably many Sybarites that had left their destroyed town and were welcomed in Poseidonia, promoted the commercial activities of the colony with their richer experience and initiatives. During such a flourishing period three temples were built, the Basilica, and the temples of Poseidon and Ceres. Many works of art, such as the incomparable Greek fresco of the Diver’s tomb (480 b.c.). 

The magnificence of this colony lead the Lucans, an Italic inland population, to try to conquer it. In about 400 b.c. they occupied it and changed its name in Paistom. Their influence on the commercial and cultural activities of the colony was not at all negative, as numerous tombs containing interesting frescoes and objects clearly show. The Lucans ruled it till 273 b.c., when it became a Roman colony and was called Paestum. The Romans enriched the city with large buildings, among which there are the portico of the Forum, the thermae, the Amphitheatre.

Monuments that need to be visited:

- The Basilica 
- The Temple of Poseidon
- The walls of the town
-  The Sacred Road
- The Forum 
- The Italic Temple 
- The Amphitheatre
-  The Temple of Ceres 

Visits to monuments

Archaeological area – Temples

Entrance from 9.00 a.m until two hours before the sunset.