Paestum - the power of Greek temples

The Italian province of Salerno is famous for its huge attractions - one of the most important archaeological parks in Europe. Today, Paestum is a district of the Campanian city of Capaccio, while in the distant past it was a Greek colony of the city of Sybaris. The ruins of the settlement were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. When you are in Salerno, you simply have to visit them. The more so because for only centuries they remained in oblivion, reappearing to the world only in the 18th century.

Visiting Paestum

Ancient Paestum was surrounded by a 5-kilometer-thick wall, 5 km long, most of which has survived to this day. Apart from it, tourists visiting the park can see three huge temples (Athens, Hera and Poseidon). An interesting place is also a small Roman amphitheater. In a small building, probably a tomb, there is a stone chamber with frescoed walls. One of the most famous is the fresco called The Diver of Paestum , depicting a man jumping into the water. The fact that the building probably served as a cenotaph (a tomb in which the body was not buried) is evidenced by its shape and the brown vessels found inside, which the ancient Greeks placed in the tomb. Thanks to them, scientists were able to assess the age of the object - according to calculations, it was built around 520 BC. Apart from the walls surrounding the city with four gates, an interesting archaeological point of Paestum are two main streets, which intersect typically for Roman settlements, i.e. at right angles. It is worth visiting the museum, which has collected numerous exhibits, thanks to which we can learn more about the Greek colonization in this area and the Roman period. The excavation area is fenced, and to visit the Paestum archeological park and the museum, you must pay admission - the ticket costs around 6.5 euros. Motorists can leave their car in a nearby paid parking lot. After the sightseeing, you can stop by the pizzeria located next to it.

A journey through Campania

A trip to Paestum will impress everyone, because it is not often possible to see such well-preserved evidence of the talent of Greek architects. Many visitors will start to wonder why today we are unable to build so beautifully or so permanently. Leaving Capaccio, we can head to Salerno , the main town of the province, approximately 50.5 km away. On the way, we will pass Santuario del Gethsemani, a temple hidden in a pine forest overlooking the valley. Should someone wish to go inland, to the east, the next stop can be made in Roccadaspide, which is dominated by a mighty gray stone castle. However, if you follow the SS18 route consistently, you will reach Battiglia, the third largest city in the province (after Salerno and Cava de 'Tirreni). Every first Sunday in July, it is celebrated here at Festa della Speranza, the feast of Our Lady of Hope. Finally, we reach Salerno, picturesquely situated on the bay of the Tyrrhenian Sea. One of its most important tourist attractions is the tomb of St. Matthew the Evangelist , located in the cathedral. Moving further north of Salerno, we will head towards Naples and other Campania attractions, including Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii.

Camping in Salerno

Tourists looking for accommodation in the province of Salerno will be pleased with the offer prepared by the year-round Camping Villaggio dei Pini . It is only 1 km away from Paestum, so those wishing to explore the famous archaeological park can reach it on foot. There is a bar, pizzeria and restaurant on the premises, sports enthusiasts have at their disposal football, tennis and beach volleyball fields, they can also play bowling. Villaggio dei Pini has a private beach, so every guest will find a place for their blanket or sunbed. There is a playground for children. Campsites like this area - in the vicinity we can find at least a few of them, which means that while exploring the area we will come across many caravanning fans.