Archaeological Park of Paestum
Archaeological Park of Paestum things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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If history and archaeological wonders are your passion, then a visit to the ancient site of Paestum in Italy should be at the top of your travel itinerary. Nestled in the heart of Campania, just under an hour's drive south of Salerno, Paestum is a treasure trove of antiquity that will transport you to a bygone era. The Treasures of Paestum Paestum is renowned for its three Greek temples, each a stunning example of architectural prowess and timeless beauty. These temples, dedicated to the goddesses Hera, Athena, and Neptune, are amongst the finest-preserved remnants of ancient Greek civilization. Their grandeur and allure are nothing short of breathtaking, allowing visitors to step back in time and envision the ceremonies and rituals that once took place within their hallowed walls. A Glimpse into the Past Paestum's historical significance goes beyond its temples. It is also home to an exquisite museum housing unique burial paintings from the 5th century BC. These ancient frescoes offer a rare and intimate glimpse into the lives and beliefs of those who lived in this ancient city. Among these treasures, the iconic "Tomba del tuffatore" (Tomb of the Diver) fresco stands as a testament to the artistic and cultural richness of this era. A World Heritage Site Paestum's cultural importance has not gone unnoticed. It has earned the prestigious designation of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This recognition is well-deserved, as Paestum boasts one of Europe's most exceptional archaeological zones. Its temples are celebrated as some of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples in the world, and its museum houses an array of millennia-old artifacts, including ceramics and daily life items that offer a vivid picture of life in antiquity. From Poseidonia to Paestum The history of Paestum dates back over 2600 years when it was known as Poseidonia, founded by Greek colonists around 600 BC. Abandoned for centuries, this once-thriving city now stands as an archaeological marvel, a testament to the enduring legacy of Magna Graecia. It is a place where 2600 years of history and mythology come to life, where the echoes of ancient rituals and the brilliance of ancient artistry still resonate in the present day.
Ugo Terzi (Golfo di Salerno)
00
Transport: I took a train from Napoli, it's very straightforward. You'll have to change trains in Salerno and it'll take like 1,5 hours costing 7€. From Paestum station it's a 10 minute walk to the entrance. Admission: As far as I remember the admission for the site including museum is 15€. If you want to visit several archeological sites in Campania, I'd highly recommend getting Artecard 365 lite for 26€. Visiting two sites makes it worth already in most cases. Site: The three preserved Greek temples dating from 600BC are truly stunning. The largest temple, which is believed to be a temple of Hera is extraordinary well preserved. It still has the inside row of columns as well as all intact outlying columns. Those temples make you really appreciate the craftsmanship and engineering of the people who built it. Around the temples theres also some other smaller greek buildings, as well as Roman ones, which were added after the Roman conquest of the area. The small amphitheatre is great as well. The signage of the site was great, lots of boards explaining many buildings and general things! Last but not least, don't miss the museum across the street. Artifacts from the excavations are shown here, including the famous paintings from the tomb of the diver. I'd recommend to plan in at least three hours if you want to see everything. There's some restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops outside the entrance. Make sure to bring a hat and sunscreen in summer, as there's not too much shade.
Al Er
00
The Archaeological site itself is ok but the disrespectful locals and rude staff made it a terrible experience for us. As soon as we left the car we were shouted by a man (I understand Italian) “in Italy we are normal, we like normal people and not people like you”. Yes, we were a group of four gay men, I guess we also “look gay” because all we did was leave the car and walk. That wasn’t a great start but as part of the LGBT community, we are sadly used to be abused for our existence and we didn’t want to let it spoilt our day. Once at the ticket office, one of my friends went to buy the ticket with his broken Italian and was laughed at his face by the staff there. Obviously they didn’t know that two of us could speak Italian. Excuse him for being Swedish and trying to speak the local language! But that wasn’t the end. Once inside the site we were constantly followed by security staff for no reason and accused of smoking, when none of us smoke. She then started looking all around us for the imaginary cigarette and made us feel like criminals. Then we proceeded to the museum that is included on the price of the ticket. At the entry, the lady there asked us if we spoke Italian, only to say that she only spoke Italian and followed with her Covid speech. It was just rude and unwelcoming all together. As said before, all in all, terrible experience. Save your time and money and take it somewhere that it would be appreciated.
Oscar B
00
Disclaimer: I’m a huge Ancient Rome/Greece nerd. I used one of my free entrances of my artecard (highly recommended) on Paestum. The wait was less than 5 minutes. I did not have a guide because I did a lot of research prior to visiting. If you also do not plan on joining a guided tour, I would highly recommend going to the museum first. Now the Paestum itself. Paestum unlike Pompeii or Herculaneum was not persevered in the ground and was exposed to the elements. This is why everything but the temples is reduced to knee high walls and might be boring to most people. Paestum makes up for this by how well the three temples are preserved. As far as I know the Temple of Neptune is the best-preserved Greek temple period. Finally, I’d like to note that there is a lot of outdated information about the temples out there, so I’d like to share the most recent findings: The Basilica: This temple was mistakenly called “The Basilica” because of its appearance. It is the first temple of Hera in Paestum and the oldest of the three. The Temple of Ceres: This is the second oldest temple in Paestum and was dedicated to Athena instead of Ceres. The Temple of Neptune: This is the newest and best preserved of the temples. It is still not 100% clear who was worshipped here. It was either Hera, Hera and Zeus or Apollo, though the first is the most likely.
Marvin Peter
00
I’m shocked the Archeological Park of Paestum isn’t more famous. Paesteum is a former Greek colony, later conquered by Rome. There are well-preserved Greek temples dating back to the 6th century BC. There’s the Temple of Neptune (built 460 BC), The Temple of Herra (built 520 BC), and the Temple of Athena (built 500 BC). It’s amazing how these temples were built over 500 years before the Roman Colosseum. The exteriors of all three temples are mostly intact besides the ceilings, and I was even able to walk through them. Besides the temples, there are also a lot of ruins of Roman buildings/houses after Rome conquered the region in 273 BC. Most of these ruins are just the foundations and lower walls. However, there is a well-preserved old Roman amphitheater that had gladiator fights. These ruins are likely one of the oldest in all of Italy. The park was nearly empty and I basically had the whole area for myself to explore. I highly recommend a trip to the Archeological Park of Paestum.
Frenite
00
Waited 30 minutes in line to buy tickets. It was my birthday and in whole of Italy I always get free entry for my birthday and came here years ago and they used to give free entry on your birthday, the cashier said they don't do that anymore and was annoyed that I was asked which is normal since the rest of museums etc do this in Italy. Bunch of old people group wanted to cut the line and thought the ticket point belonged to them and cashier didn't say anything other than being rude to everyone. Place is nice but beside the 3 temples and some stone covered in 1 meter grass you will not see anything. This place has been forgotten and is in constant decay with no one taking care of it. We also saw and heard some German people digging in sand, guessing they were researching for new things while tourists are in which was nice. Overall is nice to come but wouldn't pay 13 euro to come back but rather go and see Pompei with this money.
Ferial Hussein
00
Nearby Attractions Of Archaeological Park of Paestum
Temple of Hera II
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
Via Magna Graecia, 919, 84047 Capaccio Paestum SA, Italy
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Phone
+39 0828 811023
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Website
museopaestum.cultura.gov.it
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Overview
4.7
(9.5K reviews)
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Description
The National Archaeological Museum of Paestum is a museum in Capaccio-Paestum that houses archaeological finds from excavations of the ancient Greek city of Poseidonia/Paistom, then Paestum. The museum is one of the major "on-site" museums in Italy..
attractions: Temple of Hera II, Templo de Poseidón, Temple of Athena, Paestum Museo Archeologico, MMMAC Museo dei Materiali Minimi d’Arte Contemporanea, Tempio di Hera, restaurants: Oasi Ristorante, Masseria Lupata, Domus Clelia, La Bottega del Gusto, Ristorante Simposium, Ristorante Nettuno, Antiche Mura Grill&Wine, Pizzeria La Basilica, Il Calice, Ristorante Bistrot73 - Aperti a Pranzo e Cena
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