In this entire territory, the deepest imprint was probably made by the Church, which has been present in this zone starting at least from the 4th century. The imprint left by it has been stronger and longer-lasting than any other, both that of the Byzantine invaders and the successive Longobards who had permanently settled in the peninsula around 650.

However it may be, the Longobard conquest gave to all Etruria a political-military role, because it was a region that bordered on the Byzantine territories. Some scholars have glimpsed some very faint traces of the still obscure military games between the two contenders. Several castles were also probably a part of this scenario of ancient "barbarian" wars, the former being recalled often only because of the role that they played during later periods and in the age of the City-States.

In the zone of interest to us, also monte Cocollo, probably was a part of this war theatre. Also the dedication of the churches to certain saints may be a sign of either Longobard or the Byzantine presence. The change in the general political scenario, due to the victory of the Franks in 774, had no significant and documente local repercussions. Differently from the past, when - either due to the war or to other heavy administrative changes - the change in the general political climate was certainly felt by the local populations, life continued now to run along the usual tracks.

As for the Castle of Loro, the only sure piece of information is that the place existed already around 990. From then on, we can follow the fluctuation of the territory of Loro between various powers and jurisdictions with a certain approximation. A further document of 1059 informs us that Loro had passed into the hands of Ugo, son of a certain Suppone,

perhaps of the Ubertini family; but that, not long afterwards, the Lord of the place was Guicciardo, the founder of the Rocca Guicciarda. Evidently, with its possession, he had become a part of the large feudal Guidi family. These continued passages from one feudal family to another cannot be explained without hypothesising a certain active role on the part of the powerful Bishop of Arezzo, in whose diocese the village of Loro was located.

Starting from the second half of the 11th century, along the roads of the entire zone of the Casentino and the Upper Valdarno, the Counts Guidi finalised their presence with "that process of fortification which was to mark the countryside and the architecture of the villages in the zone" (Manneschi, 1921: 19-20). Many crucial points of the territory were garrisoned, and many settlements - starting from that moment - became "walled", protected by towers, ramparts, and enclosing walls.

"Monasteries, parish churches and castles became the main forms in which the populating of the valley - where, nevertheless, the ancient tradition of the scattered open settlement that had characterised the early medieval period - did not disappear" (Manneschi, 1921: 20).