Temple of Hera II

A brilliant historical part of Italys Greek occpancy. Two acropolis one older that the other side by dide. Dedicated Temples and architecture surrounded by mixed pre Roman and Greek ruins. Romanruins pre Roman.

Thank you, Italy, for preserving such an amazing historical site. The Hera Temples at Paestum are truly remarkable — well maintained, awe-inspiring, and full of history. The entrance fee is also very reasonable for the experience. A must-visit!

Worth walking around and contemplating the majestic temples. Sadly the entry fee is fairly high.

The oldest of the three temples inside the archeological park. Still very well preserved within much restoration. You can still appreciate the precision and engineering it took to build such a large structure, and especially to have it remain upright after o we 2,000 years.

Temples to Hera – Paestum, Italy. The two largest temples of Paestum, long mislabelled as the “Basilica” and “Temple of Neptune”, are now widely thought to honour Hera, Queen of the Gods. The absence of any inscribed dedication leaves this a scholarly deduction, drawn from votive finds and the city’s known cult practices. Built in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE, their massive Doric columns rise without ornament, their weathered fluting still catching the light from the Tyrrhenian coast. Even stripped of cult image and ritual, they command the plain with a solemn grandeur — stone witnesses to a city where Greek settlers, Roman conquerors, and medieval farmers each left their trace.

A magnificent archeological site linked to the ancient greek past of the greek colonies in southern Italy

Incredible how these temples from 400BC have been preserved so well. The museum is being redeveloped: expected to reopen fully in October 2023, currently only 20% of museum is accessible. But all the outdoor sites are open. Parking very reasonable: €3 for 3 hours (August 2023). Definitely worth having a guide, though audio guides are available.

What a wonderfully preserved piece of history. We had a guided tour. Imagine if you did a self tour or could take hours. So much to learn. And fact that you can touch makes it even more mesmerizing.