 In the Middle Ages, the village became a centre of commercial activity, benefiting from maritime and overland travel, the most important of the latter routes being the via Francigena, the ancient pilgrims' way that in medieval times connected Canterbury to Rome.In the post-Medieval period, the village saw major development with the construction of the Borgo Nuovo or Stagno, largely completed by the 17th century, on the plain of the small river Ghiararo.This area is characterised by interesting painted 17th and 18th century houses, some built on much earlier buildings.