It is believed that there has been a property on the current site of Santo Stefano since Roman times.  The reasons for thinking this are based on the prominent position of the house, and the ‘importance’ of the house locally.  This is further supported by the fact that evidence of part of a Roman column was found during the renovation of the house.   When people used to build properties in this part of Italy, they would reuse any materials they could find that were lying around – typically when the house was built the walls were constructed of a single layer of terracotta tile (to keep the lines straight), followed by a layer of miscellaneous stone found around in the fields.  It could therefore be assumed that the part of the Roman column found when the house was being renovated had been used because it was available in the surrounding fields.

More recently, though, we know that the house was a small monastery during the 15th and possibly the 14th century.  When the renovation was taking place, very old nails were found, and evidence of building techniques known to have been used during this period. The small group of monks – maybe only four or five of them - would have worshipped in the Chiesa, and used the Oratorio for more informal praying and other religious duties.  They would have lived in the upstairs part of the Granaio, the oldest part of the house to be still standing (the Chiesa has been rebuilt on several occasions apparently, the most recently being 1872).  The downstairs of the Granaio would have been used to prepare their wine and oil, and perhaps to store their salamis and hams.

We had assumed that the monks would have farmed the land to exist, but apparently in this part of Italy the monks would have been fed by local people who provided them with all their needs.  We understand this still happens to a lesser degree!

Perhaps the most interesting legend that we know of Santo Stefano relates to the last group of monks who lived here – maybe in the 18th or early 19th century.  The oldest monk used to sing at night to ward off the devil, and to protect the brothers.  As the old monk was dying, the other monks were very worried that after his death, the devil would be able to reach them.  The old monk told them not to worry – he would always sing at Santo Stefano to keep the devil away.  Local people say that they still hear him sometimes!  Unfortunately, we have never had that pleasure.  But when work was progressing with the restoration, an old stone was found that looked just like a face with a wide open mouth – singing!  This has been bedded into the wall next to the front door of the Oratorio.

Perhaps the air of peace and tranquility that surrounds the property is due in no small part to the help of the old monk!