The Castle of Santo Polo

We find references to the castle, for the first time, in the Farfense documentation in January 1102, when, in the third generation lease that Abbot Beraldo II made to the presbyter Giovanni and his brothers, located in the Mozzano appurtenances, they are cited between the others, toti seniores de Sancto Polo, a property common to all the condominiums of the castle, which in 1192 had to correspond to the apostolic chamber an annual income of six pounds.

In the territory of Santo Polo, the monastery of S. Andrea in Flumine had substantial interests, which owned various land assets that gravitated around the dependent church dedicated to S. Vittoria, who was archipresbyteral, but without care of souls. In 1347 Santo Polo joined the Roman revolt led by Cola di Rienzo, who appointed a mayor and rector.

In 1368 the castle, together with others, was given to the second generation masculine by Pope Urban V to Francesco and Buccio Orsini, sons of the deceased rector of the Jordanian heritage. Remained, albeit with alternating vicissitudes, in the Orsini heritage, it was confiscated in 1604 on the death of Enrico Orsini, Marquis of Stimigliano. The legitimated son contested the decision, the controversy lasted for a long time and ended only in 1641 when the Orsini family renounced the continuation of the dispute. In 1871, Santo Polo, 235 inhabitants, was appodiato di Montebuono. It then became appodiato di Collevecchio, in 1853 Santo Polo counted 307 souls, of which 54 lived in the countryside, 63 families, 67 homes.

The parish church was dedicated to SS. Peter and Paul and was equipped with an organ, a popular festival was celebrated for the patron saint San Barnaba on 11 June. In the town, which still retained the walls, there was a slaughterhouse, a grocery store, a cobbler and a Piacentini grindstone.