Paestum Archaeological Site

2467 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

September, 2011

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Your husband, wife or partner

Reasons for trip

During our HF Discovery Holiday to Sorrento in addition to visiting Amalfi, Capri, Herculaneum and Pompei, we also had an organised coach trip to Paestum. It’s about 100 km south of Sorrento but took longer to get there than it should have because there had been a landslip on one of the mountain roads as our route took us via the Amalfi coast and Ravello. Paestum is in the Campania region in the province of Salerno and once we’d skirted round the edge of the city of Salerno the landscape changed completely, from the rocky headlands of the Sorrento peninsular to the flat River Sele Plain, that is now a fertile agricultural area, but was once a malarial swamp. I peered out of the coach window in the hope of seeing some buffaloes as this is the home of buffalo mozzarella; I did see a few in the distance plus lots of roadside kiosks that sell the local cheeses, but which appeared to be closed, probably because it was late in the tourist season. For independent travellers it’s possible to reach Paestum Archaeological Park by train as the railway station is near to the site.

It was a strange feeling arriving at the archaeological park from the north as it seemed to be in the middle of nowhere; not in a town – most of the buildings there have been built because the archaeological site is there – a museum, a few shops and cafes, hotels, restaurants, bars and tourist shops. There were very few visitors – completely different from the hordes at Pompei. We were met by our designated local tour guide, who was not happy that we were (unavoidably) late, her attitude somewhat spoiling the visit. On entering this UNESCO World Heritage Site the first building we came to be the so-called Basilica, or 1st Temple of Hera, which is the oldest and largest of the Greek temples there. I have to admit that I was totally ignorant about this important archaeological site; I knew there were Greek temples on Sicily but I’d never heard of Paestum. It was originally Poseidonia, founded by the Greeks in around 600 BC; eventually it became a Roman colony and was called Paestum, so a lot of the remains are Roman, including a forum, small amphitheatre and baths, although only about a quarter of the site has so far been excavated (the rest of the site is on private land). Next to the Basilica is the 2nd Temple of Hera (or Poseiden or Neptune!) built around 460-450 BC, with the Temple of Athena (circa 500 BC) a short walk away.

Our tickets included admission to the Museum of Archaeology, and we spent some time looking at finds from Paestum itself and also from the Sanctuary of Hera, north of Paestum at the mouth of the River Sele. There are many sculptures, tombs and vases but what I remember distinctly is the Tomb of the Diver – as its walls are covered in frescoes and the top slab has an image of a man diving from a diving board into a sheet of blue water. Sadly we had to leave to return to the hotel in time for dinner but it would have been lovely to have seen the sun setting behind the temples. I think it would be wonderful to stay there for a night or two to experience a sunset and a sunrise over such a magical, atmospheric place.

Silver Travel Advisor

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.