A day in Taverna, the town of Mattia Preti

If you want to spend a day surrounded by art and nature, the town of Taverna, in the province of Catanzaro, is the perfect destination for you! Taverna di Catanzaro is the town where you can admire the works of Mattia Preti, the great Calabrian painter of the Caravaggio school who left his mark on Italian and international art of his time.

But Taverna is also one of the municipalities of the Sila National Park, offering endless possibilities for nature excursions and attractions not to be missed in the woods, such as the MABOS - Sila Forest Museum, the mountain villages and the nearby Lake Ampollino.

Let's discover the secrets of Taverna with a tour that starts in the historic centre and reaches the woods.

Taverna is a little gem in the Sila National Park (SiIa Piccola) area, one of the most popular mountain tourist destinations in the region. Also known as the “City of Mattia Preti”, who was born there, Taverna boasts the title of “City of Art” and, unsurprisingly, a stroll through the streets and squares of the town centre provides ample evidence of its treasures. Before reviewing Mattia Preti's works in Taverna, let's take a stroll through the narrow streets and noble palaces, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere around the cafés in Piazza San Sebastiano.

Traces of medieval Taberna, conquered by Robert Guiscard's Normans (11th century), can be seen in the remains of the ancient defensive system, of which the ruins of the so-called Torrazzo, the fortress that remained in use presumably until the 17th century, still survive. The current Town Hall, on the other hand, attracts attention in the square with its Clock Tower. Among the churches to visit, in addition to the sumptuous Church of San Domenico, home to Mattia Preti's main works in Taverna, we also recommend admiring the 15th-century Church of Santa Barbara and the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Nature lovers can take advantage of their trip to Taverna di Catanzaro to plan an excursion to discover the wonders of the woods. The trekking possibilities are endless, including cycling along the Parks' Cycle Route, which crosses the MABOS eco-museum, the beautiful Villaggio Mancuso, the “Monaco-Garcea” Visitor Centre and the small “Le Foreste e l'Uomo” Thematic Museum. A visit to Lake Ampollino is also a must for anyone visiting Taverna.

The best time to visit Taverna? Autumn, to enjoy the flavours of the forest: from Sila PGI Potatoes to Caciocavallo Silano DPO cheese, not to mention local mushrooms and chestnuts.

The birthplace of the great Caravaggio-style painter Mattia Preti, one of the leading figures of 17th-century Italian art, Taverna is a veritable urban museum that preserves important traces of his artistic career. Among the places that house Mattia Preti's works in Taverna is the 15th-century Church of San Domenico. Upon entering, visitors are immediately struck by the splendid 18th-century coffered ceiling; the naves are decorated with 11 works by Mattia Preti: from the famous self-portrait to the precious cycle of frescoes depicting the Stories from the Life of Saint Dominic.

Attached to the church, the other fundamental "Preti" site in Taverna is the Civic Museum, housed in the premises of the former Dominican Convent (15th century). The museum in Taverna is one of the most important and well-curated art galleries in Calabria, with works by 17th- and 18th-century masters ranging from the brothers Gregorio and Mattia Preti to Giovan Battista Spinelli, Antonio Samelli and Di Mattia. On the second floor, dedicated to 20th-century contemporary art, you can admire works by Carmelo and Angelo Savelli, Ercole Drei, Francesco Guerrieri, Lia Drei, Mimmo Rotella, Mirella Bentivoglio, Concetto Pozzati, Giuseppe Gallo and Francesco Correggia.