Our accommodation at Borgo Venusovio is the Hilton Garden Hotel where we have a very large room on the top floor with extensive
views across the surrounding countryside.
We take our evening meal in the hotel where the maitre d' provides us with a very personal
service to another excellent meal. He informs us that the heavy thunderstorm that we experienced in Matera is not unusual, and that
due to the poor (non-existent?) drainage system, fatalities are not unknown
June 1st: today's drive of over 259-kilometres is the longest of our trip
as we make our way to Salerno via the ruined city
of Paestum
Our route to Paestum is by way of a very well engineered road, with little traffic, that crosses a series of valleys and mountains
by means of spectacular bridges and long tunnels. As usual, we attempt to keep to the posted speed limits but are frequently
passed by cars and motorcycles travelling at very high speed.
Paestum is a major tourist sight and the area is crowded with people.
Yet again, we get free entry on production of our passports to prove that we are old enough to enjoy this benefit
The ruins of Paestum are famous for their three ancient Greek temples in the Doric order, dating from about 550 to 450 BC,
which are in a very good state of preservation. The city walls and amphitheatre are largely intact, and the bottom of the walls of
many other structures remain, as well as paved roads.