Archaeology and Tourism conference in the boot of Italy
MúzeumCafé 21.
The 13th Mediterranean Fair of Archaeological Tourism is Italy’s second largest tourism-related event after Milan’s International Tourism Fair, the difference being that it primarily concentrates on cultural matters in relation to archaeology. Tour operators, guides, archaeologists, specialist journalists, as well as school and university groups gathered not far from the ruins of Paestum in southern Italy. Around two hundred exhibitors are represented annually and for a long time they have come not only from the Mediterranean region, but also distant corners of the world, thus guaranteeing variety. This year more than thirty countries participated at the four-day conference and exhibition, with Cambodia being the special guest. Events are held simultaneously in different locations, the most visited being the fair, where the exhibiting countries and institutions have their own stands. A small area free of charge encourages the participation of a large number of foreign exhibitors. This year Hungary was represented for the eighth time by the Aquincum Museum, which on each occasion gives equal emphasis to both professional and tourism issues, since as Hungary’s only representative there are frequent inquiries at its stand. The conference is held in the town of Paestum, which was founded by the Greeks around 600 B.C. It was given the name of Poseidon to honour the god of the sea. From among the treasures of the antique world three Doric temples are still standing today, which with their surroundings (the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, the Velia archaeological site and the Padula Carthusian monastery) are included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Local finds, including the famous 5th century B.C. Tomba del Tuffatore, known as the Diver’s Tomb, are held at the nearby Paestum National Museum of Archaeology.