The story of ancient Italy is so much more than just Rome. Tristan Hughes visits the extraordinary site of Paestum in southern Italy, home to some of the greatest ancient Greek temples from anywhere in the world.
From majestic temples to pristine wall paintings more that 2,500 years old, he explores the story of the Greeks who settled in Italy and developed prosperous cities long before Rome became dominant. Southern Italy and Sicily was known as 'Magna Graecia' - Greater Greece - because of how many Greek settlements rose to prominence along these coastlines.
This is a story where ancient Greek and Italian cultures collided. Sometimes fighting. At other times influencing each others ways of life.
Guided through Paestum's story with the site's director Dr Tiziana D'Angelo and archaeologist Silvio Leone, Tristan follows the story of Paestum from its Greek beginnings in c.600 BC all the way down to its eventual takeover by Rome more than 300 years later.
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