Our History
The hotel was born in 1821 thanks to Gabriele Scapolatiello. He is referred to as its “master” as early as 1846 in the ancient guest book of the hotel, still cherished today by the family. At the end of the 19th century his son Giuseppe took over the running of the hotel and he was the first to be listed in the local county register as hotel owner. At this stage the Scapolatiello family left its original home and took up residence here, in one of the most ancient buildings of Cava de' Tirreni, which in ancient times also housed the Court and Prefect, and then the Bishop, when the church of Santa Maria Maggiore was the cathedral for the Dioceses of Cava.
The walls of this ancient palace have welcomed many illustrious and important guests. It is a location rich in history and its ancient atmosphere has witnessed many a significant event of the town's history. Between 1517 and 1570 three bishops lived here: Pietro Sanfelice (1875-1519) one of the few churchmen sustaining the requests of the population to become independent from the Benedictine influence; Gian Tommaso Sanfelice (1520-1550), Pietro’s nephew and successor, who was called to Rome to prepare and participate in the Concilium of Trento; Tommaso Caselli (1550-1571), an innovator who gave new vigor to the declining clergy of his time. During this time the Scapolatiello family also took over the adjacent Di Marino guesthouse and Giuseppe’s son Cesare introduced his love and talent for the art of Cuisine.
The secret of his delicious dishes lies in the genuine ingredients often made up of naturally grown products cultivated in the fields owned by the Scapolatiello family and still used today in the galley of the hotel.
A most challenging time came when Cesare’s son Giuseppe had to take over the running of the hotel at the young age of 18 and had to face the tragic times of both World Wars. The remoteness of Cava de' Tirreni along with the reassuring scenery allowed the family and its guests to live this time out in a safe and tranquil haven, away from the echoes of the war. After the armistice of 1943 however, the Germans became a bitter enemy and the spell was broken. The city was occupied and bombed. The hotel itself was occupied by German soldiers retreating from their enemies. The Scapolatiello family showed its natural hospitality by welcoming all those inhabitants who had lost their houses in the bombings and for a long time they took care of them even burning some ancient furniture to keep all the fireplaces going and give some respite to the weary and cold population. Finally the Germans retreated, as they were surrounded, deporting the Abbott to Germany. Giuseppe Scapolatiello rose from these dark times and during the following decades the hotel flourished to become one of the most important and well known international establishments, today also a member of the Charme & Relax chain.