The island outback has got a country culture that, as far as modern, is based on ancient origins. The experts interested in our island, are fascinated by some rural settlements and them primitive architecture, particularly the south-side: from Serrara Fontana to the streets of Cuotto, Ciglio, Monterone that go on to Forio.

These settlements are known as 'stone houses'. Explaining the story, even if full of blancks, it's necessary to consider some geological characterists of the islan but who wants more fantastic explanation about the presence of them, can refer to the classical mythology. In order to satisfy who believe in science, we inform that maybe in the second century A.D., because of a series of earthquakes that changed the morphology of the territory, big stones of lavic rock went down the downhill, particularly towards S.Angelo, Punta Imperatore, Citara and another side called Falanga.

When they were used as houses is a unknown time: the first 15th century' notarial deeds testify their presence but only during the next century that the constant invasions of pirates, Turks and Saracens before and the need to increase the cultivable territory then, drove the inhabitants to search secured refuges in the most distant areas from the coasts and more up, and so those big stones become precious refuges and then, comfortable rural houses, fresh caves, wells for the system for collecting water, utensils storage, places of worship.

For some interested in a mythological explanation, we say that the giant Tifeo created the fall of the big rocks from the Epomeo summit, to be free from his imprisonment by means of Jupiter.

There are a lot of along the streets of Ciglio, Cuotto, Panza and Falanga, perfectly camouflaged with the surrounding environment; the strange fact is that today they are used exactly as in the past even if have been restored changing their primitive aspect. Many other things under the briars or covered by plants, along ways that drive to Epomeo are invisible to the visitors.