 The town was held by families such as the Caracciolo and D'Avalos in the following centuries.In the late 19th century Francavilla was already a well known seaside resort and the seat of an artistic literary circle with relevant figures as Francesco Paolo Michetti, Gabriele D'Annunzio, F.P.Tosti, who met at the "Conventino", in the former monastery of Santa Maria di Gesù.