Paestum

Paestum's UNESCO World Heritage site features the best-preserved ancient Greek temples outside of Greece.

Founded by Greek colonists in the 6th century BC, Paestum flourished for centuries under Greek and later Roman rule. Its three stunning Doric temples date from BC 500 to BC 450 and remain in excellent condition today.

The Temple of Hera, also known as Basilica, is Paestum's oldest temple and the largest of the three. Dedicated to Hera, goddess of women and marriage, it shows the transition from older to classical Doric style.

The Temple of Neptune is Paestum's middle temple. Dedicated to the god of the sea Neptune, it is made of large limestone blocks in perfect classical Doric style with 34 columns still standing.

The Temple of Ceres is Paestum's smallest temple, dedicated to the goddess of agriculture Ceres. It too has 34 surviving columns featuring extraordinary bas-reliefs about daily life in Magna Graecia.

Paestum's other ruins include city walls, a meeting hall called the Heroon, and several tombs, all indicating a large and prosperous ancient Greek colony.

UNESCO recognizes Paestum as an "exceptional testimony to the civilization of Magna Graecia", with temples and ruins illustrating the peak of ancient Greek civilization in Southern Italy between the 6th and 4th centuries BC. Their well-preserved state makes Paestum a unique treasure and open-air museum of classical architecture and culture.