Pestum, Italy

Pestum was an ancient city founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC and was originally named Poseidonia (the city of Neptune or Poseidon). In 273 BC, the city became the capital of Poseidonia. Paestum was conquered by the Romans. In the 9th century the city was finally abandoned after a devastation by the Saracens. Paestum was rediscovered in the 17th century when a road was laid and the subsequent excavations brought its magnificent temples to light. Pestum is now the most exciting archaeological ensemble in southern Italy.

Three Doric temples are almost completely preserved in Pestum: the Temple of Neptune; the Temple of Hera and the Temple of Ceres. Next to them is the National Museum with finds made during archaeological excavations. The most valuable are the paintings on the walls of the Tomb of the Diver from 480 BC.