The ancient ruins at Paestum are among the only Greek ruins left on Italy’s mainland, and they’re definitely the best-preserved. (Many more wonderful remnants of ancient Greece can be found on the island of Sicily). Plus, although you’re probably used to hearing all about men and male deities when it comes to the ancients, this site is a nice example of how that wasn’t exactly the case: All three of Paestum’s major temples were built in honor of female goddesses.
The site also has a gem of an archaeological museum, with some of the most important finds of the Greek and Etruscan civilizations. Another bonus? Although Paestum is, of course, a tourist site, it’s well off the beaten track—meaning that, depending on the season, you might be almost alone with the temples.
Founded in 600 B.C. by the Greeks, Paestum was conquered by the Romans in 273 B.C. While you can still see the archaeological signs of their conquest today, the best-preserved, and most spectacular, ruins in Paestum remain Greek.
