At the beginning the town developed inside the walls of the castle that was on Rocca di San Quirico to protect the inhabitants from the invasions of Saracens. Then, around XIII century, the town started to develop outside the walls, at the feet of the mountains. This new centre was first called Roccadipiemonte, then Roccapiemonte. The name is made of "rocca" (rock) indicating the Middle Ages castle on Solano mount and "Pimonte", that is "piè di monte" (at the feet of the mount). The castle was built in 1042 and was called Rocca di San Quirico by Guaimario, prince of Salerno.

In 1059 Roberto il Guiscardo gave to San Leone, abbot of Cava, the most part of the lands of the Rocca di San Quirico. Then the monastery obtained more land and its power became stronger and stronger. In 1169 Guglielmo de Conturso became the ruler of the Rocca: he belonged to Altavilla family. At the death of his last heir, the Rocca passed to Svevians.

In 1279 the Rocca passed to Giacomo di Bursone or Brussone, then to his son Riccardo; in 1340 to the countess Angela de Capua, duchess of Satriano; in 1349 Giovanna I d’Angio gave the castle to Niccolò Acciaiuoli. Ladislao gave it to Latro family. In XIV century the rock was divided in three circumscriptions (called Universities): Rocca Corpo, Rocca Monastero and Rocca Casalium, that became independent municipalities in 1806.

In 1413 the castle passed to the Zurlo family, then to Piscitelli that sold it to Ferdinando Spinelli, duke of Castrovillari. In 1625 the feud was sold to Ettore Ravaschieri, prince of Satriano and duke of Cardinale. In 1689 the abbot of Cava gave the feud to Count Antonio Ravaschieri who purchased it for 3000 ducats and with the duty to give to the abbot each year 13 ducats and 13 hens. The last ruler of this family was the princess Ornella Ravaschieri Fieschi, daughter of Vincenzo, the last duke of Roccapiemonte.

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Text: Stefania Maffeo