Taverna Ducale dei Cantelmo

The Taverna Ducale dei Cantelmo preserves a medieval civic building in Popoli Terme. Its heraldic facade recalls the Cantelmo family and the economic life of the town.

Why it matters

The building’s history joins the collection and storage of feudal dues with later use as an inn. It offers a different perspective on aristocratic power from the castle above the town.

What to notice

Squared limestone masonry, a pointed portal and mullioned windows establish the facade’s structure. Coats of arms alternate with fantastic creatures in the carved decoration. The antiquarium collection includes Roman stone objects and material associated with local craftsmanship.

Context and history

The building belongs to the fourteenth century. Its successive functions reflect the movement of goods and travellers through Popoli. A sixteenth-century inscription associated with Giovannella Carafa’s wool workshop preserves another connection with the town’s productive history.