Paestum is a truly enchanting and atmospheric place, and a 'must' on any classical tour of Italy. Just south of the Sorrento peninsula and Amalfi Coast, and a mile inland, this is a haunting archaeological site where three Greek temples stand in the middle of the countryside. Paestum is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Once called Poseidonia, the city was founded in the VII century BC by Greeks colonists from Sybaris and it would has probably occupied by a human settlement when they got there.
It turned the name in Paestum once and for all when it was taken by Rome and continued to prosper until the mouth of river Salso started to be buried by sand and the whole place turned into a swamp.