Paestum, the Plain of Gods
Paestum: Epiphany of Antiquity and Cradle of the Grand Tour
It is often said that there are places one must see at least once in a lifetime: Paestum is undoubtedly one of them.
As one of the most prominent centers of Magna Graecia and an essential stop on the Grand Tour that captivated European aristocrats from the 17th century onward, Paestum is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its incomparable beauty.
Its imposing walls safeguard a series of Doric temples whose construction began in the 6th century BC, ranking second in the world for their state of preservation, surpassed only by the Theseion in Athens.
Sacred Architecture and the Enigma of the Diver
The Archaeological Park of Paestum reveals itself as a stone palimpsest of unparalleled harmony, where three masterpieces of the Doric order stand out:
- The Temple of Neptune (or Poseidonion): the largest and best-preserved among the Paestano temples.
- The Temple of Hera (or "Basilica"): so named in the 18th century when Neoclassical culture rediscovered Paestum, it is the oldest site on the grounds (circa 560 BC).
- The Temple of Athena (also known as the Temple of Ceres): an architectural unicum dominating the northern sacred area.
These majestic structures are contemporary with the only Greek-era fresco in the world to have survived intact to this day: the splendid Tomb of the Diver.
The city, originally named Poseidonia in honor of the God of the Sea, Poseidon, rises within the territory that witnessed the prehistoric rise of the Gaudo Culture.
It was founded by the Sybarites, driven by the strategic necessity of opening a trade route between the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas.
The Rediscovered Greece of Winckelmann
Johann Joachim Winckelmann, one of the greatest archaeologists of all time and a precursor of Neoclassicism, theorized the absolute superiority of Greek art.
Yet, he never set foot in Greece: it was right here in Paestum that he found his ultimate source of inspiration.
Standing before what he described as "the oldest architectures preserved outside Egypt," Winckelmann discovered the very essence of Greece and classical art.
Three Ancient Civilizations, One Territory, and the Myth of Europa
Even today, visitors to Paestum can walk among the temple columns and along the avenues of the ancient city, such as the Via Sacra, amidst structures that trace the historical evolution of this magnificent place:
the Poseidonia of the Greeks,
the Paistom of the Lucanians who conquered it around 410 BC,
and finally the Paestum of the Romans who occupied it in 273 BC.
Alongside the Greek monuments, one can thus admire Roman ones, such as the Forum, the Gymnasium, and the Amphitheater.
Much like Elea-Velia, its stones narrate the purest Greek-Roman antiquity.
Furthermore, among the frescoes of Paestum, one discovers that gladiatorial games—rendered famous during the Roman era—were actually an invention of the Lucanians. They celebrated the deceased with games and banquets, painting these combat scenes upon the tombs. The iconic image of the gladiator was born in Paestum.
In addition, it was Assteas, the renowned master ceramicist of Paestum, who first painted the image that symbolizes the identity of an entire continent: the daughter of Agenor of Tyre, the Phoenician princess beloved by Zeus, riding atop the bull.
Her name? Europa.
Cultural Curation and Tailor-Made Itineraries
Cilento For Travellers DMC translates the complexity of this historical palimpsest into rigorous and exclusive travel experiences. We do not offer simple guided tours, but rather genuine journeys of decoding the archaeological and philosophical heritage. We develop custom travel projects, excursions, and personalized packages that allow clients to delve into the diverse souls of the territory:
- Excursion to Paestum with a guided tour of the Archaeological Park: An immersive journey through the temple area, with the option to include a guided tour of the National Archaeological Museum (for more information, simply fill out the form at the bottom of this page).
- Fully modular packages and stays:
- Past Tense: Archaeological Paths in Cilento: Premier itineraries connecting the Doric monumentality of Poseidonia to the philosophical excellence of Elea-Velia (birthplace of Parmenide and Zeno) and other archaeological paths in the region, offering a journey from the landmark sites of ancient cultures to the present day.
- The Time Machine: A Millennia - long Journey: A "journey through time" from the symbolic sites of ancient cultures to contemporary eras.
- One Territory, Three Ancient Civilizations: An exclusive package unifying the locales where the three great ancient civilizations of Cilento—Greeks, Lucanians, and Romans—left profound and indelible vestiges.
Whether for an individual itinerary curated down to the finest detail, group travel, or educational tourism, develop your travel project with us.
Contact us to discover our exclusive excursions to Paestum.
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