Paestum | Museum and its archaeological site

Paestum or Poseidonia ?

Like Laos, Poseidonia, the current Paestum, was also founded by colonists from Sybaris.

Located at the mouth of the Sele river in the territory of the current town of Capaccio, the Lucani occupied Poseidonia at the end of the 5th century BC, as evidenced by the various painted tombs discovered in the area.

Only later (273 BC) did the Romans found the colony of Paestum on what remained of Poseidonia, giving new development and wealth to the area.

Paestum

PAESTUM. At the Origins of the Myth

The area is of great importance for the number and quality of the archaeological sites present, which can generally be divided into those of Magna Graecia, the Lucani, and those of Roman times.

The perimeter of the urban walls is of significant interest and extends for about 5 kilometers, with a variable thickness between 5 and 7 meters, built by the Lucani on a pre-existing Greek foundation.

Surviving monuments from the Greek colony of Poseidonia include the “Basilica”, a temple dedicated to Hera dating from the 6th century BC; the Temple of Neptune, built in the mid-5th century BC; and the Temple of Ceres, dating from the late 6th century BC. Near the mouth of the River Sele, about 9 km away, excavations have uncovered a sanctuary dedicated to Hera, with a portico, a main temple and a smaller building known as the “thesauros”.

The remains of the Roman colony include the forum, surrounded by public buildings such as the "macellum" and the "comitium", the complex of the "gymnasium" with the sacred pool, while to the east of the forum is located the amphitheater.

The NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM houses finds recovered in the area, with some particular highlights such as the Metopes of the Hera sanctuary, the most important in Magna Graecia, a rich collection of funerary paintings, and finally the famous tomb of the "diver".

USEFUL INFO FOR VISIT

SCHEDULE

MUSEUM: 8:45-19:30
every day except the first and third Monday of the month and 1/1, 1/5, 25/12
EXCAVATIONS: from 8:45 until 1 hour before sunset (entry until 2 hours before) every day except 1/1, 1/5, and 25/12

ADDRESS AND CONTACTS
Via Magna Grecia, 919 Paestum I-84047 Capaccio (Sa)
Tel.: (+39) 0928 811023
www.museopaestum.beniculturali.it

Distance from Maratea: By car:
120 km, approximately 2 hours
By train: 1 hour 30 minutes (the station is next to the archaeological site)


ADMISSION PRICES
The ticket includes admission to the archaeological sites of Paestum and Velia and the National Archaeological Museum of Paestum (valid for 3 days):
Tickets are sold at the museum:
€10 from December to February; €2 for visitors aged 18–25; free for under-18s
€15 from March to November; €2 for visitors aged 18–25; free for under-18s