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Paestum Holidays

A seaside taste of Ancient Greece

The Romans had Pompeii, but the ancient Greeks left their mark on this part of the Italian coast at Paestum. Today, its three temples stand beautifully preserved, along with other ruins that make the town a real draw for culture seekers. Combine this with a dip in the sea and a nap on the sandy beach, and Paestum holidays have a winning formula.

The ruins were discovered and forgotten at various points throughout history before becoming something of a tourist attraction in the 1700s, and Paestum later became a landing site for US troops during World War II, when they used the temples as shelter. Today, the town welcomes visitors to explore the excavation site, including its famous painted tombs. After a day of sightseeing, the nearby beach offers a refreshing change of pace, while many local restaurants serve up traditional dishes – making holidays to Paestum Italian perfection.

Explore our map of Paestum

Your Paestum questions, answered

It’s about a half-hour walk between the main archaeological site and the sandy beach, passing through the town centre with its many shops, restaurants and pizzerias.
While the ruins are the main attraction, a more modern museum features displays from the excavations, for those looking to dig further into Paestum’s history.
The etymology is blurry and no one is really sure, but the Greek town was called Poseidonia before the Romans conquered it and renamed it Paestum.

Hotels in Paestum