Alongside the most famous sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, Campania preserves lesser known but equally valuable places, such as the Archaeological Park of Paestum and Velia, testimony to the civilization of Magna Graecia.
Campania is a land with an extraordinary cultural heritage; every corner, in fact, preserves archaeological treasures that tell the greatness of the civilizations that have followed. The Archaeological Park of Paestum and Velia is an example.
This archaeological complex brings together the remains of two important Greek cities in southern Italy, Paestum and Velia, telling their cultural, economic and political importance in the Greek civilization and during the subsequent Roman domination.
The greatness of Paestum’s Magna Graecia
Paestum, originally called Poseidonia, was founded by the Greek settlers from Sibari (Calabria) around the seventeenth century B.C. The city was named after the god Poseidon, although the most important cult in the city was dedicated to Hera.
The location of the Paestum colony was a strategic position that allowed the local population to prosper both along the trade routes and in the surrounding fertile plain. In a short time it became a flourishing commercial centre and agricultural activity.
In the 5th century BC, Poseidonia reached its peak with the construction of the great Greek temples, the same ones that today show us an example of Greek architecture outside of Greece itself.
During the fourth century BC, the city passed under the control of the Lucani and was later conquered by the Romans (who renamed it the colony for precisely Paestum). However, during the imperial age, a decline began that led to the definitive abandonment in the seventeenth century following the paludification of the area.
What to see at the Archaeological Park of Paestum and Velia
Visiting the Archaeological Park of Paestum and Velia allows you to take a real dive into the past, that of Magna Graecia. This is what Paestum is famous for and what you should not miss during your visit to the park.
Temple of Hera
The Temple of Hera, commonly called “Basilica”, was erected around the middle of the sixteenth century B.C. and is the oldest of those of Paestum. It is well preserved and far from the canonical style of the Doric temples: there are no pediments and the hall is divided by central columns.
Temple of Neptune
It was erroneously called “Temple of Neptune” for a long time as initially it was thought to be dedicated to Poseidon. On the contrary, current debate suggests that it could honor Hera, Apollo or Zeus.
The building dates back to the middle of the fifth century B.C. and embodies the classicism of the architecture of the Greek temples for its grandeur and harmony of proportions. Made of huge blocks without mortar, it has withstood earthquakes.
Temple of Athena
Among all the temples of Paestum with their history, only that of Athena is the only one of which it is known with certainty to which deity he was consecrated. It was built on a high ground, almost as if to dominate the panorama and protect the public spaces below.
The first settlers had already erected a small building in honor of the goddess. However, around the sixteenth century BC, a majestic temple was built, of which today remains to the frame of the roof. The interior, higher than the external colonnade, opened on an antechamber enriched by classical columns.
Agora
The Agora of the city was an important square similar to other Greek Agoras, where meetings, debates, markets and community activities took place. Inside, in fact, stood the main public buildings, such as the Heroon (probable cult of the founder of the city whose remains are visible in the museum), the Ekklesiasterion (place for political meetings then replaced by the sanctuary) and the temple of Zeus Agoraios (place of worship dedicated to Zeus).
Roman Forum
The Roman forum was built during the Roman era to the south of the Agora, surrounded by several shops, the Comizio to the north and the market (Macellum) to the south. It was a key place in the city, where both political activities and trade interacted. In the imperial era, porticos were added and some shops were converted to house the college for the Imperial Cult. The Basilica (place for judicial activities) was built in the centre. Around the second century A.D. the Temple of Lari was built on a building previously used as a tavern.
Comizio
The Comizio was an area located near the central forum of the Roman city of Paestum that served as a meeting place where citizens met to discuss and make decisions on issues of collective interest, such as laws, tributes and public appointments.
Temple of the Capitolina Triad
Among the buildings built in Roman times there is also the Temple of the Capitoline Triad or Capitolium, named after Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. The temple symbolized the union between the Greek heritage and the Roman culture. The building is visible remains of the podium on which it was built and the Corinthian columns that formed the peristasis.
Amphitheatre of Paestum
The amphitheatre of Paestum is one of the best examples of this type of construction. It was originally built without the outer ring and therefore with few steps of the staircase intended for the public; only later a parapet was added to protect against possible aggression of the animals of the arena, followed by an external ring. Today, unfortunately, part of the amphitheater is covered by the road.
Tomb of the Diver
The Tomb of the Plunger is one of the most valuable treasures kept inside the National Archaeological Museum of Paestum, considering that the Greek funerary paintings have been almost completely lost. This cofferdam, found a few kilometres from the city, features scenes from a symposium in honour of the deceased and a central image of his dive (hence the name) as a symbol of passage into the underworld.
National Archaeological Museum
The National Archaeological Museum of Paestum is located in the center of the ancient city. Opened in the 1950s, exhibitions document its evolution from the Greek foundation to the Roman period. Among the treasures preserved, stand out the Tomb of the Plunger, the metopes of the sanctuary of Hera (which illustrate the deeds of Heracles) and some painted plates of the Lucane tombs.
The museum has recently been equipped with multimedia tools to make the experience more immersive and suitable for everyone. The route winds through various thematic sections that tell the history of Paestum and its surroundings, from the Paleolithic to the rediscovery of the city in the eighteenth century.
Excavations of Velia
Velia, known for having given birth to the philosophical school of Parmenides and his disciple Zeno, preserves the traces of a great city of Magna Graecia, from public spaces to private environments.
The city was founded south of the Gulf of Poseidonia around the middle of the 16th century B.C. by the inhabitants of Phocaea (present-day Turkey) who had fled from their land because of the Persian siege. She was initially called Hyele (only later she changed first to Elea and then to Velia during the Roman aegis).
Elea-Velia was built between a hill with the acropolis in the center and the surrounding hills and protected by a large wall that followed the natural shape of the territory. Within the settlement, there were three main districts connected by natural valleys.
Among the sites to see in Velia there are the Porta Rosa (with the oldest round arch of the country), the Terme Adrianee (social and recreational center of the Roman era), the Agora (heart of public life and politics in Greek times), the Acropolis (with public and private buildings) and a tower erected on a pre-existing temple.
In which region is Paestum and where is the Archaeological Park
The Archaeological Park of Paestum and Velia is located along the coast of Cilento, near Salerno and various places of interest. More specifically, the archaeological site is located in the municipality of Capaccio-Paestum and extends over a vast area where you can immerse yourself in a landscape rich in green and surrounded by peaks.
The city can be reached by train with the line Napoli Centrale – Reggio Calabria to the station of Paestum; by car taking the motorway A3 Salerno – Reggio Calabria; by bus with lines that depart from Salerno and Naples. Once you arrive, the Archaeological Park is easily accessible on foot.
Copertina : Paestum
