AREA ARCHEOLOGICA

Paestum, whose roses were sung of by Virgil and Horace, offers one of the most imposing architectural ensembles in Magna Graecia, with some of the best-preserved temples in the ancient Greek world.

Practical info. Access to the archaeological area is via two entrances along the Via Magna Grecia: one on the north side, opposite the temple of Athena, the other on the south side, opposite the temple of Hera II, where one of the two ticket offices is also located. The other is inside the museum. The ticket is valid for 3 days and includes admission to the Paestum archaeological site and museum, as well as to the Elea-Velia archaeological park. Since 2016, the interior of two of the three temples (those of Hera I and II) has been accessible to visitors, after being closed to the public for 20 years. Visitors can now stroll between the majestic stone columns. What's more, the interior of the Temple of Hera I is now accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Temple of Athena, also known as the Temple of Ceres (north of the site). Built around 500 BC, i.e. some 50 years after the temple of Hera I and 50 years before that of Hera II. The presence of numerous votive objects dedicated to the goddess Athena proved that the first attribution to the goddess Ceres was erroneous. This Doric temple is composed of 6 columns on the façade and 13 on the sides. The pronaos (a sort of vestibule preceding the cella) was composed of 8 columns of the Ionic order, the oldest example of this style in Italy. Their remains (bases and 2 capitals) are on display in the museum. The temple was converted into a Christian church in the Middle Ages.

The Roman city. The remains of Paestum in Roman times cover the area between the Temple of Athena and the southern temples, as well as the western part of the site. These include the forum, a vast rectangular square surrounded by public buildings and stores, the remains of the amphitheatre, the foundations of several domus (Roman houses) and the older Hérôon (510 BC), a tomb dedicated to the founder of Poseidonia.

Temple of Hera II, also known as the Temple of Neptune (south of the site). Built around 450 BC, this temple is one of the best preserved in Europe, majestic in its impressive dimensions and perfectly preserved fluted columns. The two pediments are still in place, as is part of the internal structure. It bears a striking resemblance to the Temple of Zeus in Olympia, from which the Greek architect must have drawn his inspiration. In the ^18th century, archaeologists named it the "Temple of Neptune", the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Poseidon, who bequeathed his name to the city, but research suggests it may have been dedicated to Hera.

Temple of Hera I, known as the basilica (next to the temple of Hera II). This temple is the oldest in Paestum, dating back to 550 B.C. It was mistakenly identified in the ^18th century as a Roman basilica, due to the absence of the cella walls, which made its layout look more like a civil basilica. It is indeed a Doric temple, dedicated to Hera, wife of Zeus and a deity particularly honored in Poseidonia. It features 9 columns on the façade and 18 on the sides, almost 5 m high. The columns of the pronaos are still standing, as are some of the central columns that were intended to support the roof. The painted terracotta elements that adorned the building's crown are on display in the museum.