San Pietro ad Azzanum in nearby Ioanella. In a 1681 description of San Lorenzo the church is said to have a main altar with columns, a tapestry depicting a scene from the life of San Francesco, and frescoes (dated 1481) on the cupola and the small baptismal font. In another description of the church dating back to 1614 mention is made of an oratory with a statue of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. San Lorenzo at this time was classified as a parish serving Magliano, Faognano and Pomarolo. In the middle of the 19th century, local religious services were conducted in the chapel of the noble De Dominicis family. Near the church is a small graveyard that was in use through the middle of the 20th century. Today ceremonies are still conducted at this location on the Italian holiday honoring the deceased (Festa dei Morti). Chiesa Nuova (The New Church) The new San Lorenzo church, belonging to the parish of Borgonovo, was eventually constructed in the area lying between Magliano e Faognano. "the Saracen Wall" Located near the old San Lorenzo church, this terraced wall juts out over the Vezzola valley. Legend has it that this wall was constructed as a means of defense against invading Saracen invaders. If this was its original purpose, it did not function well in this regard however, and any defenders of the land in the area must have been defeated and castle(s) which might have stood nearby razed to the ground. Another possibility is that the wall was constructed as a sanctuary during the era in which the Romans were in the process of conquering the indigenous Pretuti tribespeople. The area may have served as the place of worship for an ancient cult before conversion by the Christian leaders and the eventual construction of the San Lorenzo church. The wall is made of giant sandstone blocks and is still in good condition. It has a length of about and stands approximately in height. The terrace standing behind the wall has views of the Vezzola Valley as far away as the barely visible settlement of Albata. Iron Age Necropolis In the early 1900s, a local farmer, Felice Di Pietro, was in the process of cultivating some land near Magliano that had stood fallow for many years. At a depth of approximately he unearthed the well-preserved remains of two individuals. Lying next to each was a foot