Paestum Excursion

Paestum Excursion

On this excursion, you'll visit the Temple of Hera I, Hera II, and the Temple of Athena. After pickup at your hotel in Palinuro, we'll proceed by minibus to the archaeological park of Paestum for a tour of three Doric temples dedicated to Hera and Athena.

At the archaeological site, we'll explore the city of Magna Graecia, originally called Poseidonia and later renamed by the Lucanians and Romans. We'll start with the Temple of Hera I, the oldest temple, constructed around 550 BC, featuring an enneastyle front.

Next, we'll visit the Temple of Hera II, also known as the Temple of Neptune. Its dedication remains debated, with theories suggesting it is for Hera, Zeus, or Apollo, while the attribution to Neptune is considered a scholarly error. Then, we'll see the Temple of Athena, the smallest temple characterized by Doric and Ionic columns.

After the archaeological visit, declared a World Heritage Site in 1988, we'll head to the park museum, which contains artifacts from the surrounding areas. Here, you can observe grave goods from Greek and Lucanian necropolises, vases, weapons, and frescoed tomb slabs.

The highlight of the museum is the frescoes of the Tomb of the Diver, a notable example of Greek painting symbolizing the transition from life to death.

After discovering Paestum's historical and artistic heritage, we will return you to your hotel in Palinuro.