LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT More than forty years living in the city, then the feeling that beyond our habits, our established ties, our commitments and our passions, there was something else... A sensation that slowly but unstoppably became, first a desire, then a need, for something original and arcane at the same time; the awareness that our little story of people and family was closely, indissolubly linked to our land and its history. A new love, an ancient call! A large stone building with its courtyards and barns, a river flowing through all the seasons, a cheerful waterfall, a quiet 'natural pool', water mills, the distant echo of bands of brigands, the remains of an ancient Roman city, the mountain massif that hides treasures of caves, gorges and beech forests... It is here that our new life begins! We did not choose this place, it is this land, this house that called us... we said to ourselves, without thinking, "It's her!" We have a dream, it has become a project, it is slowly coming true, even with effort: to rediscover and nourish the "GENIUS LOCI", the spirit of the place...

STORIES AND LEGENDS The structure dates back to 1720, and was part of the property of Princess Anna Pignatelli, and was used for changing horses and refreshments for travellers. In 1740, the road in front of the Taverna was inaugurated by the Bourbons to connect the Tyrrhenian Sea with the Adriatic Sea. Until the Unification of Italy in 1861, it offered shelter, hospitality, exchange, sharing and protection to travellers and wayfarers engaged in real adventures. During this period, it became the scene of numerous episodes linked to Brigandage. In 1910, it was transformed into a pasta factory. Some old people remember that, at the end of the First World War, it became a chocolate factory for Austro-Hungarian officers. From 1925 it was used as a proper rural building, the only one of its kind in Molise. In the years between 1930 and 1940 it was used as a rural school and accommodation for the teacher. In 2005 the Ialenti family purchased it as their own residence, returning it to its original function of welcoming and hospitality, based on the most modern concept of bio-psycho-physical wellbeing. In 2012 it received recognition as a 'Residence of Historical Interest'.

DISCOVER AND MARVEL The Antica Taverna del Principe is delighted to host those who want to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Matese Massif, one of the most beautiful stretches of the central-southern Apennines, where you can ski at Campitello, go on wonderful hikes in the caves, in the WWF Oasis and in nature, enjoying its unspoilt beauty, with the advice of expert guides. In the vicinity of the Antica Taverna del Principe is the Tratturo Pescasseroli-Candela, one of the ancient transhumance routes. The Antica Taverna del Principe is located in the Upper Valley of the Tammaro River, which has its source a few kilometres away; along its course is a beautiful ecological corridor for migratory avifauna. The Antica Taverna del Principe is located in Sepino, one of the 200 most beautiful villages in Italy, whose territory includes the Samnite village of Terravecchia, the Roman city of Altilia and many other archaeological sites. It is also possible to visit some interesting cities such as Naples, Salerno, Benevento, Isernia, and some important localities such as Ischia, Pompei, Paestum, and the Reggia di Caserta, almost all of which are just over an hour's drive from the Taverna.