It was our 4th trip to Italy and we had never taken the opportunity to travel as far south as the Amalfi Coast. Months before going, we had been reading about the Amalfi Coast and some of the must-see sites. We love old ruins and decided to explore the ancient Greek city of Paestum, a 2,500-year-old ruin in Southern Italy. I had also read that travel on the Amalfi Coast is a bit tricky, so we decided to hire a driver instead of renting a car to explore Paestum.
We arrived mid-morning and there weren’t that many people touring the site yet. The first 2 hours were spent exploring the grounds and walking where others had been so long ago. What still amazes me is the precision they had when building these places that are still standing and with such detail. There are the ruins of three temples dating to the first half of the 6th century BC.
The three temples of Paestum, a 2,500-year-old ruin in Southern Italy
The Temple of Hera built around 550 BC is the oldest of the temples. The dedication of this one is known thanks to an inscription on the temple.
The Temple of Athena (photos above) dating to 500 BC was later used as a Christian Church as they found Christian tombs in the floor.
The Temple of Hera II or sometimes called the Temple of Neptune (photo above) built 960-450 BC is the most complete temple. The roof and walls are missing, but the rest is in an amazing well-preserved condition. This temple has two rows of columns instead of one.
Enjoy all of the details
Above are three detail shots. Photo 1 shows both Hera II or Neptune in the foreground and Hera the oldest in the background. The detail in photo 2 is of one of the columns and how accurate the craftsmen were when creating these buildings. Photo 3 is a scene showing the ancient cobblestone streets and foundations as you walk through the ruins. Imagine who walked here 2,500 years ago.
You’ll also find a Roman forum and the foundations of many homes and buildings. The large defensive wall that surrounded the city and part of an amphitheater can still be seen.
After you wander the grounds be sure to make your way across the street to the museum. It houses many of the artifacts found at Paestum. Make sure to see some of the pieces of painted tombs, especially the tomb of the diver. It dates to around the first half of the 5th century and is a great example of a fresco.
We’re happy that we took the time to explore this part of Italy. We loved the many stories our driver told us as we made our way back to our hotel in Sorrento.
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