One of the main attractions - and quite rightly - of the entire Cilento is certainly Paestum. Paestum is referred to by the way really "Paestum" and not something like the Italian "Pa-estum" is a Greek diphthong, which has survived the ages. It is interesting here, of course, the recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site of ruins. Paestum was - as Poseidonia - founded around 600 BC by the Greeks, who turned to the conquest by the Lucanians Paestum, a thriving port city. Impressive witnesses of the former wealth are to be visited today the imposing Doric temples and amphitheater. Only in the 18th Century - about the same time as Pompeii and Herculaneum - Paestum was rediscovered and is now a destination is by no means be skipped in the Cilento region dar.

Attractions:

• Paestum can show significant monuments of Greek and Roman times. Particular importance is attached to the three large Doric temples, which are each an example of the Doric style of architecture for architectural epoch.
• The archaic basilica (c. 540 BC), dedicated to Hera, was one of the largest ever built stone Greek temples at all.
• The Temple of Athena (c. 500 BC.) Formerly also attributed to Ceres, is considerably smaller, but more balanced in the forms.
• Temple of Poseidon (450 BC). - This is also dedicated to Hera - has finally perfected the designs on the recently erected Temple of Zeus at Olympia.
• Furthermore, a small Roman amphitheater, the gathering of citizens, the Comitium, and other public buildings from Roman times to mention. Well preserved is the 4.75 km long city wall, identified by the Lucan and Roman phases are. The four major Roman city gates.

Source: Wikipedia - Paestum

Another nice link to the history of Paestum there are more and more detail on the website of the National Park of Cilento .

Paestum is located in the northern Cilento, about 30 minutes by car from my base station, the Terme del Tufaro Contursi , and is part of the municipality of Capaccio, thus lies by the sea. Recommended an extensive visit to the temples and the rest of the excavation site is on a quiet weekday morning, the afternoon one can thus visit the beach in peace, while the crowds jostle around the temple. The archaeological site is relatively well signposted and easy to find, if you the brown signs "scavi archaeologici" follows. The entrance fee, I believe, 7 EUR, but you can also run for hours on the huge site. The terrain is flat and easily accessible for older people, children (at least mine) take pleasure in the hunt for hundreds of large green lizards that inhabit the area - so it is something for everyone.

Links:

• Commons: Paestum - photos, videos and audio files
• PaestumGate - a virtual reconstruction of Paestum (English)
• Exhibition of the graves in the Bucerius Center Hamburg
• General illustrated description
• Salerno and Cilento-Campania Travel Guide (pdf)

And here are my photos: