Paestum
The three glorious temples at
Paestum are the most important Greek monuments south of Naples. The town
was founded in the sixth century BC, and, being near the coast, was named
Poseidonia, in honour of Poseidon, the god of the sea. By the first
century BC it had become an important Roman trading port, but was
abandoned because of the decline of the Empire, Saracen raids and
outbreaks of malaria. The temples were not rediscovered until the
twentieth century, and today they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Temple of Ceres (now known to have been dedicated to Athena) is the
smallest, and the first you come to before strolling through the ruined
city, which has several other buildings to explore. The Basilica,
dedicated to the goddess Hera, is the oldest monument, with nine Doric
columns along the front and 18 along the sides. The Temple of Neptune (in
fact dedicated to Apollo) which dates from around 450 BC, is both the
best preserved and the largest of the three temples, missing only its
roof and some of its interior walls.
The museum contains many finds from both the town and the temples —
bas-relief friezes, tomb paintings and treasures, including the diver's
tomb, a marvellous example of fifth-century BC art. If you should find
yourself in southern Italy, make the effort to visit Paestum for the
rewards are great.
Don't miss the National Park of Cilento and its cave systems, the
Monastery of San Lorenzo at Padula and Salerno. Also visit the temple of
Neptune for a look at the best-preserved temple. You can get to Paestum
by bus from Salerno, train from Naples or Salerno or by car.
