Metaponto

Metapontum was founded by Achaean Greeks in the seventh century BC on the fertile Ionian plain and grew wealthy on grain, which appears as an ear of barley on its coins. Pythagoras moved here after leaving Croton and died in the city around 495 BC. The Tavole Palatine, fifteen standing Doric columns of a temple to Hera built around 530 BC, stand alone in open country a few kilometres from the main site; the name comes from a later tradition of knights gathering there. The urban area holds a theatre, agora and further temple foundations, and a museum displays finds nearby.

What you actually see

• The Tavole Palatine - fifteen Doric columns standing in open country.
• The urban site - theatre, agora and temple foundations of the Greek city.
• The Pythagoras link - the city where he spent his last years.
• The museum - grave goods and architecture from the excavations.

When to go

April to June and September to October; the site is open and shadeless and very hot in summer. The museum closes some Mondays. Coastal resorts nearby fill in August.

Honest expectations

The main urban site is largely foundations and needs imagination. The temple columns are a few kilometres from the rest. Facilities are minimal.

Nearby

Matera lies inland; Taranto is east in Puglia.