Arianna Augustoni Paestum and Velia are not only archaeological sites, but scenarios where the past comes to life, where culture intertwines with emotion and discovery becomes experience. Places of wonder that continue to seduce travelers, intellectuals and artists for centuries, just as happened in the Grand Tour of the 700th century.
Paestum: the eternal beauty of Greek temples.
Three majestic Doric temples, among the best preserved of the ancient world, dominate the landscape of Paestum, an ancient city of Magna Graecia that still enchants with its timeless charm. The archaeological area extends for over 120 hectares, enclosed by an imposing wall. Walking between the Greek agora and the Roman forum, you can perceive the echo of daily life of the past. Here, every stone tells a story: from the sacred buildings to the thermal baths, to the luxurious Roman homes and the amphitheater, where the voices of the shows once resounded.
Next to the temples, the National Archaeological Museum of Paestum offers an immersive journey through unique treasures: from the sculpted metopes of the sanctuary of Hera to the famous Tomb of the Diver, an extraordinary pictorial testimony of the 5th century BC. A renovated layout enriched with multimedia content transforms the visit into an engaging experience accessible to all.
Velia: the city of philosophers. Founded by colonists from Phocaea in the 6th century BC, Velia is a jewel of Magna Graecia, famous for being the birthplace of the philosophical school of Parmenides and Zeno. Its archaeological landscape is a story engraved in stone: the acropolis overlooking the Cilento coast, the path through the ancient city streets and the famous Porta Rosa, the oldest example of a round arch in Italy, a symbol of Greek architectural genius. Velia is a journey between myth and history, between the sea and the hills, where every corner reveals a fragment of daily life in an ancient Greek city. A walk among its ruins offers spectacular views and an atmosphere suspended in time.
The archaeological parks of Paestum and Velia are dynamic realities, places where culture is lived and breathed through thematic itineraries, visits to the deposits, exhibitions, concerts and theatre festivals. Educational workshops, sensory experiences, walks along the sacred terraces of Velia and even yoga lessons among the ruins make these sites not only destinations for study and tourism, but spaces open to inclusion, contemporary art and reflection on our past. Visiting Paestum and Velia means coming into contact with a thousand-year-old history and discovering a heritage that continues to speak to the present. Between archaeological remains and evocative landscapes, each itinerary offers the opportunity to understand the past and live a rich and engaging cultural experience.
https://museopaestum.cultura.gov.it