Taverna

The story of Taverna's origins is written in a chronicle its first editor judged a forgery. The Chronica Trium Tabernarum, by the canon Ruggero Carbonello, was published in 1642 by Ferdinando Ughelli, who called it a historical fake for its inaccuracies, its confused references and its lack of chronological sense. According to that text the ancient Trischene, the three tabernacles, was destroyed by the Saracens in 852 and the survivors rebuilt it inland. The second destruction, on the other hand, is certain: in 1162 William I razed Taberna, which had given shelter to countess Clemenza of Catanzaro, and the exiles moved once more, founding the present Taverna between the Alli and Litrello torrents.

In February 1443 Alfonso of Aragon granted the town the status of royal domain, which held until 1630, when Philip IV sold Taverna to prince Ettore Raveschieri, who set it free again as soon as the ransom had been paid. From then on the citizens depended directly on the sovereign, with franchises on wheat, lighter taxes and justice in the hands of royal officials. Taverna is also the birthplace of Mattia Preti: in the church of San Domenico his works remain, and the fresco cycle on the life of Saint Dominic that he partly designed.