Temple of Athena — Attraction in Capaccio Paestum

The temple known as the Temple of Athena or Temple of Ceres (c. 500 BCE), is located in the northern part of Poseidonia-Paestum, in the sector between the north-south and east-west plateiai (main roads with larger size). The Temple dominated and still dominates the entire archaeological area of Paestum and it was built in a transitional style between Ionic and early Doric, with large blocks of travertine and bordered by pine trees. Is the only temple whose attribution is certain on the basis of the numerous terracotta statuettes depicting this deity recovered here, along with some inscriptions naming Athena The temple must have replaced an earlier one whose existence is evidenced by architectural decoration dated to 580–560 BCE . This was particularly important in city life and had an interior part higher than the surrounding colonnade that could be accessed through a richly decorated antechamber. The temple with a porch of 34 fluted columns (6 on the short sides and 13 on the long sides), was transformed into a Christian church during the High Middle Ages, as indicated by three Christian tombs discovered in the floor. The discovery of the architectural antefix of the big temple of 580–560 BCE within the layer of destruction and rearrangement of the temenos (sacred area) at the end of the sixth century BCE may be regarded as evidence of a sudden and traumatic event that affected the sanctuary, such as a fire. These data were recently confirmed by a study of the metal objects from the temple, nowadays held at the Paestum Museum, which shows evident traces of fire. It is likely that after this event the sanctuary was rebuilt and reorganized, along with a large part of the...

If you're anywhere near Paestum and don’t stop to see the Temple of Athena, you’re seriously missing out. Nestled between two larger and more famous temples (Hera and Neptune), this smaller Doric treasure is a gem in its own right, and honestly, a standout for me.

Built around 500 BCE, it blends Doric and Ionic elements, showing a transition in architectural style that gives it a unique personality. It's not just a ruin, it's a moment in time, frozen in stone, where you can feel the ambition of early Magna Graecia. The structure is remarkably well-preserved, and walking around it, you get this electric sense of ancient artistry and balance. Even after centuries, its proportions still feel elegant and intentional.

What I especially loved was how the Temple of Athena rises slightly on higher ground, almost like she’s still keeping watch. It’s not overrun with tourists (unlike some other famous sites), so you can take your time and soak in the atmosphere. That peaceful weight of history, mixed with warm southern Italian light? Unforgettable.

In short: majestic, understated, and totally worth the visit. Whether you’re into history, architecture, or just want a sacred pause in your day, this...

Parco archeologico di Paestum. Ingresso 15€, include il sito di Velia, vicino ad Ascea. Si scarica l'app che riproduce le spiegazioni audio di ogni punto di interesse del sito, che sono poi le stesse riprodotte sui cartelli in prossimità dei vari luoghi di interesse. Per vedere-leggere tutti i cartelli-cartellini-cartelloni del sito, ma proprio tutti tutti, ed ispezionare i resti, abbiamo impiegato 3 ora scarse. Aree di miglioramento. Ci siamo orizzontati con i 4 punti cardinali, ma sarebbe meglio che le piantine sulla cartellonistica riportassero nord-sud-est-ovest in quanto nelle spiegazioni si fa molto riferimento all'orientamento di edifici e strade. Dopo poco ci siamo orizzontati in autonomia, ma sarebbe di aiuto per il turista medio. Il ministero dovrebbe investire di più per lo studio e la narrazione-divulgazione di qs area, molti resti sono ancora da catalogare oppure non portati alla luce. Le spiegazioni e rappresentazioni dei vari edifici non di culto ( diroccati, esistono solo fondamenta e planimetria per la maggior parte di essi) potrebbero essere narrati con una migliore collocazione nel contesto storico del tempo. Anche riportare eventi salienti del tempo correlati agli spazi ed efifici continuerebbe ad aumentare il fascino di qs sito. Alcuni di qs suggerimenti sono stati considerati nella descrizione dei reperti presso il vicino museo, ma avere qs racconti e chiarimenti in sito offre una comprensione più utile dei...