Historical Background: Roccascalegna rises on a rocky hills dominating the Rio Secco valley, an affluent on the right bank of the Aventino river. On the big rock a steep castle overlooks the village. The stronghold was built in 1250 by Gualtiero Palearia. In 1647 the baron Corvo De Corvis ordered the so-called ius primae noctis with redemption agreement. According to the tradition, on a former wall there was the mark of the bloody hand of a desperate bride, who stabbed the baron. The territory has a surface of 22,83 square kilometres in the uphill area.During the 11th and 12th century it was reclaimed by the Benedectine monks, as the church of St. Pancrazio bears witness, which preserves the ruins of the abbey of the 9 th century. After the Normann conquest the commune in the 12th century Roccascalegna had a prestige role since an imposing towered castle was built, a valuable defensive bulwark of the valley. During the 15th century, it was a feud of Raimondo de Anchino, the Gualtieri of Manoppello, the Orsini, Crafa and Corbo. In the 18 th century it belonged to the Croce-nanni family.