I am filling my free weekends while I am in Italy with as many day trips and excursions as possible.  It’s hard to sit still on the weekends when the weather is sunny and the buses and trains are ready to whisk you off to the many interesting cultural wonders of the Amalfi Coast.

This weekend I traveled to Paestum, just past the city of Salerno, which are the ruins of a city founded in the 7^th century BC.  The city enjoyed approximately 1,000 years of prosperity first ruled by the Greeks, then the Lucanians, and then the Romans.  The city became abandoned with the fall of the Roman Empire and the area became swampy and uninhabited.  It wasn’t until the 18^th century that the area was cleared to build a road, when what was found? Three majestic Greek temples: the Basilica, the Temple of Ceres, and the Temple of Neptune.  All still partially intact and surround by remnants of walls and houses.

Paestum is an overwhelmingly impressive and tranquil area to walk around and explore.  The adjacent artifacts museum is a perfect pairing of artifacts, pottery, sculpture, and tomb frescoes that should not be missed.  The area itself is studded with touristy shops, small cafes, and charming restaurants to make this day trip complete.  After a couple hours of tackling the ruins, I treated myself to a tasty lunch overlooking the area at the Pizzeria Rosa.  Here I enjoyed an eggplant, zucchini, and red pepper pizza and an insalata mista.  The first of many day trips I have planned for myself over the next couple of months that I can’t wait to share with you.

Tagged: culinary school, day trip, excursion, externship, Italy, Mami Camilla, Paestum, Sorrento