| On a recent inspection trip to Southern Italy, I decided | | | | imagination. There are very large living quarters, spread |
| to head out to the ancient ruin of Paestum. During | | | | out over about half an acre which are no longer visible |
| many Italy vacations; tourists from around the world | | | | except for the remaining stone walls which reach knee |
| flock to this site to see and experience some of the | | | | height. One section in the middle of the site has a few |
| most well preserved temples in all of Europe. Located | | | | larger walls and a single staircase but other than that |
| about 45 minutes south of Naples just off the A3 | | | | there is little to assist in piecing together the entire |
| highway, Paestum is a treat for those who appreciate | | | | colony in your mind's eye. |
| archeology in its purest form. Paestum was a Greek | | | | As you explore the site you must take the time to go |
| colony of the Sibans before a ware with the Romans | | | | on the edges of the fenced area; there you can find |
| in 273 B.C. turned it into a Latin colony. There are three | | | | the amphitheatre which seems about 20% complete. |
| main temples. Temple of Neptune (600 .B.C.) Temple | | | | You can also see several randomly placed columns |
| of Ceres (580 B.C.) and the Temple of Athena (470 | | | | that may have been entrances to some older buildings. |
| B.C.) | | | | If you want to see the real artifacts from Paestum |
| The actual site is very large and spread out, spanning | | | | you will need to visit the museum which is just across |
| what seems to be about a square mile but the actual | | | | the street from the site. Inside you can see the detailed |
| area which you can explore by foot is much smaller. | | | | decorations that covered the façade of the temples |
| For people with limited mobility or prefer to walk short | | | | as well as some excellent examples of ancient Greek |
| distances this would be considered a light to moderate | | | | and Roman artifacts. |
| experience with 100% of the site on flat and even | | | | If you arrive on your own by car, I suggest taking the |
| ground with switchback packed dirt trails connecting | | | | A3 highway from Salerno and exiting at the city called |
| the three main areas. | | | | "Battipaglia" which is also highway 18, but the highway |
| On first glance what stands out are three massive | | | | number is very hard to spot. Other than the exit off |
| temples each seems almost complete from a | | | | the highway it's almost a straight line from Salerno or |
| distance. The main temple dedicated to Neptune is | | | | Naples to the Paestum. If you use GPS make sure it |
| colored in deep copper earth tones and the other two | | | | does not put you on 175a; which is a coastal road that |
| are almost whitewash in color; these are the only | | | | goes along the ocean.. "What a nice drive" you might |
| whole structures in the entire site, but the | | | | say but 175a is full of trash, transients and old and |
| completeness of each one is quite impressive. Even up | | | | dying restaurants and shops which are strung along |
| close when you realize that the interiors are no longer | | | | the entire route. 175a felt a little "Mad Max, Thunder |
| functional and the majority of the temples are now | | | | Dome" if you ask me so avoid that road at all costs. |
| comprised only of the basic pieces such as the | | | | If you decide to take an escorted tour then the coach |
| massive columns, the capital, the very top portion of a | | | | will bring you directly to the entrance. The ticket booth |
| column, the arcatrave and pediment you still get a | | | | is very non-descript and also hard to spot, but look for |
| great sense of what they may have been like when | | | | the stone archway opposite the line of shops across |
| they were just built. | | | | from the site. Tickets are only 4 euro (2009) and you |
| Unlike Pompeii or even Herculaneum (in modern Italian | | | | can buy a combo ticket for the site and the museum |
| Ercolano) you cannot enter any of the temples | | | | for under 10. There is no town at the site and it's quite |
| because they are surrounded by small wooden | | | | out in the boonies but there are a few café's and |
| fences. You can get within 25 feet or so from each | | | | two pizzerias to quench your thirst and hunger after |
| one, so close up photography or sketching is still | | | | appeasing the gods. There is also a smattering of your |
| possible. | | | | typical shop keepers offering everything from useful |
| The experience of trying to imagine people worshiping | | | | information books to Paestum ash trays and cup |
| Neptune and Athena in Paestum is quite easy with the | | | | holders. |
| temples but the rest of the site takes a bit of | | | | |