Paestum was discovered by chance in 1750 during the construction of a road in the area. Founded by the Greeks in around 600 BC, the ruins are now sheltered by cypresses and oleanders and have a melancholic charm that is typical of Ancient sites. Unlike Pompeii, it was malaria rather than a natural disaster which forced the inhabitants of Paestum to abandon their city towards the end of the Roman Empire. The town is now a popular seaside resort once more.