HIDDEN AWAY DEEP IN THE Italian Mezzogiorno, on the periphery of the unassuming municipality of Capaccio in Campania, lies a breathtaking marvel of the ancient world. Paestum (originally known as Poseidonia, its original Greek name) was a Greek colony. It is best known for its three temples, which are some of the the best surviving examples of ancient Greek architecture.

The Temple of Hera II dates back to the time of the first Greek settlements in Italy. It stands tall over the grassy expanse that used to host the ancient city of Poseidonia, and it is housed within an archaeological site along with two other Greek temples and a Roman Forum.