If you are on the Amalfi Coast for several days and you are looking for some alternative destinations to organise a nice day out, you can take the opportunity to visit the Temples of Paestum and taste real buffalo mozzarella, visiting an authentic buffalo farm.
In this article you will find all the tips you need to organise your day in Paestum, starting from the Amalfi Coast and travelling by public transport.
Our aim is to help you plan a perfect excursion, full of pleasure and relaxation, without forgetting a tasty stop, regenerating for body and spirit!
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From the Costiera to Paestum: travel tips
Using the SITA public service, you can depart from any town on the Amalfi Coast.
Always remember that the bus terminus is in Amalfi, from where buses to the other towns on the Coast depart. If you depart from other towns, such as Maiori or Minori, and travel in high season or at weekends, remember that you may find yourself travelling on foot. If you are travelling with children, consider travelling with the Travelmar sea service, which operates from April to October.
As there is no direct connection from the Coast to Paestum, you will first stop in Salerno. From here we recommend taking the regional train, which takes about 35 minutes to reach your destination.
Once at Paestum station, it is only a 15-minute walk to the Archaeological Park, which we will discuss in the following paragraphs.
In the first part you can admire the evocative and ever-changing views of the Amalfi Coast that reveal themselves at every turn. You will cross part of the Gulf of Salerno, then plunge into the green expanses of the Sele plain.
Discovering the gastronomic tradition of the Sele plain: buffalo mozzarella
The first stop we recommend will provide you with a unique experience: you will get to know the reality of one of the historic buffalo farms in the Sele Plain
You will discover the poetry of a natural and less stressful rhythm of life, in which you will immerse yourself, enjoying this magical moment of full contact with nature. You will have the opportunity to participate in the entire process of creating dairy products, and witness the expert craftsmanship of the famous buffalo mozzarella.
You will also taste the products made strictly by hand from the tasty milk extracted from organic farms: mozzarella, cheese and yoghurt, which you can also buy at the dairy before leaving.
We recommend this experience, especially if you are travelling with children, because by visiting one of the many estates in the area, you will have the chance to see the stables where the buffalo live and you will be able to find out many interesting things about the tasty buffalo mozzarella.
For example, that voluntary milking systems are used which, by means of mechanised equipment, allow the buffalo to be milked independently, according to their needs and in total peace of mind.
This is because the well-being of the animal is fundamental to obtaining a raw material of the highest quality, which makes it possible to produce products that we are sure will conquer you at first taste!
Discovering the archaeological excavations of Paestum
Resuming your journey, and crossing the green plains that stretch along the course of the important Sele river, you will reach Paestum, one of the main centres of Magna Graecia.
Paestum offers one of the most important archaeological sites in all of Italy, where you can relive the clearest evidence of the Magna Gracia period.
The oldest traces of human settlement date back to the Palaeolithic period, up to 500 B.C. with the first Greek colonies. The important Roman colony experienced a long period of great prosperity and strong expansion, only to suffer a period of decline and final abandonment around the 8th century, due to the swamping of the area.
Archaeological ruins have unearthed an important part of this vast UNESCO World Heritage site, which you can explore while reliving all its history and the magic of its artefacts.
Here it is advisable to hire an expert guide who will accompany you on a pleasant walk, evoking the daily life of ancient Paestum, still clearly imprinted in its archaeological finds.
You will be captivated by the enchanting beauty of the Basilica, built around 550 B.C.: it is the oldest of the Temples of Paestum and one of the best testimonies of Greek civilisation, standing with its immortal forms in the magical silence of the green fields that surround it.
Walking along Via Sacra, the main street with Roman paving stones 12 km long, you will reach the Forum, and behind it you will find the Amphitheatre, only half of which has been brought to light.
You will visit the Italic Temple dating back to 200 BC dedicated to the Capitoline triad: Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, and the Temple of Athena, goddess of wisdom and the arts, dating back to 500 BC.
A few steps away from the archaeological site, you will find the National Archaeological Museum of Paestum, where archaeological finds from the 7th century B.C. to the 7th century A.D. are preserved, precious historical and artistic testimonies of the Greek civilisation and the Latin colony.
Here is housed one of the most important testimonies of the famous Tomb of the Diver, on whose cover slab is depicted a naked diver in the act of plunging from a high springboard, a symbol of the passage from earthly and mortal life to the world of immortality.
Admission tickets to the archaeological site and museum can be purchased, with possible reductions for ages, directly from the ticket offices on site. Visits take some time, but you will still have the chance to enjoy a tasty lunch or a pleasant stroll through the pretty souvenir shops.
Explore the wonderful site of Paestum: book your ticket
Final tips to enjoy your day from the Coast to Paestum
Your day will be long and you will walk quite a bit, discovering temples, archaeological remains and farms.
- To avoid excessive fatigue, wear a comfortable pair of shoes, preferably trainers.
- If you are travelling with children, remember that the journey from the Amalfi Coast to Paestum takes about two hours and the journey time from Amalfi to Salerno is about 60/65 minutes: take along some medication for motion sickness and plastic bags to use in case of emergency. On the way, prefer the seats on the right, to enjoy the view: from the bus you will also be able to see some small beaches and hidden inlets.
- If you are travelling in high season, prefer the boat service to reach Salerno: it will take less time, but above all you will drastically reduce the risk of traffic jams, which are very high if you travel in the summer months.
- If temperatures are hot, wear a cap to protect yourself from the sun and always protect your skin from UV rays by using a cream with a high protection factor: you will avoid the risk of annoying sunburn or sunstroke.
