Taverna Penta was originally a resting station for carriages travelling along the ancient consular road of Calabria, located 10 miles south of Salerno in the so-called Sele Plain.

Already mentioned in the geographical maps of the 18th century, Taverna Penta was expanded by the ancestors of the current owner, Filippo Morese, in the second half of the 19th century with the construction of the second floor, which also featured two circular turrets on the outer corners of the main façade.

The open courtyard farmhouse represents an “architectural testimony of historical and environmental importance and is one of the few among numerous buildings of the same type, once present in the Piana region, that is still intact in its entirety”.

The premises on the ground floor, formerly used for storing foodstuffs and as stables, were renovated at the end of the last century to accommodate the production and sale of ‘Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO’ (Protected Designation of Origin buffalo milk mozzarella cheese produced in the Campania region) and other products made every morning exclusively using the raw milk of the buffalo raised on the farm.

In 2013, we also opened a yogurt shop where we produce yogurt, puddings and ice creams with buffalo milk, known for their creamy texture and delicate flavour.

We organise tours for groups interested in visiting the buffalo farm and witnessing firsthand our traditional mozzarella production, including a tasting of our dairy products.

FACILITIES AND SERVICES: LOCAL AGRITURISM ACTIVITIES IN CAMPANIA

The dairy is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (Sundays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

The yogurt shop is open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

It is possible to watch the processing of the buffalo mozzarella DOP and visit the adjacent buffalo farm.

GUIDED TOURS

The guided tour of the Filippo Morese agricultural farm includes a visit of the zoo-technical centre dedicated to the study of animal husbandry and animal production, a visit of the Taverna Penta Cheese Dairy to witness the traditional processing of Buffalo Mozzarella DOP, a tasting of the dairy products (cherries, smoked cherries, buffalo ricotta cheese), all of which have been produced by the buffaloes bred on the farm. As an alternative to the tasting, it is possible to reserve a light lunch. The group can also visit the nearby yogurt shop and taste its products.

The tour will be accompanied by the owner of the company, Filippo Morese, or his Italian-Swedish wife, Flavia Bergman Acquaviva d'Aragona, who is an official tourist guide for the Campania region, and with whom you can also organise guided tours of other wonderful tourist destinations in the area, including Salerno, Paestum, the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and Herculaneum.

PLACES OF INTEREST IN THE VICINITY

The National Archaeological Museum of Pontecagnano dedicated to the 'Etruscans on the Frontier'; Salerno and the Amalfi Coast; the Certosa di Padula, a UNESCO World Heritage site.