Between the Early Middle Ages and the Lombard period, the territory of San Vito Romano became part of the system of settlements and territorial control that characterised central and southern Italy. Some local place names, such as that of the area known as “La Corte”, have also been linked to the term curtis, used in the land organisation of the time.
In the 9th century, Saracen raids also affected inland Lazio and the Subiaco area. According to tradition, in this period the inhabitants of the area sought greater protection on the heights, at first finding shelter in the natural caves of the cliff. Here a fortified settlement is said to have gradually developed, destined to become the core of the medieval town.
Tradition links this process to the presence of Benedictine monks, who are credited with a role in the formation of the new settlement and in spreading the cult of Saint Vitus. Medieval sources record the name Castrum Sancti Viti, that is “Castle of Saint Vitus”, from which the town’s present name derives.
The village subsequently remained tied to the Benedictine presence and lordship until 1180, when a new phase in the history of the area began.