It was founded in 1011 by Alferius of Pappacarbona, a noble of Salerno who became a Cluniac monk and had lived as a hermit in the vicinity since 1011. Pope Urban II endowed this monastery with many privileges, making it immediately subject to the Holy See, with jurisdiction over the surrounding territory. The first four abbots were canonized as saints on December 21, 1893 by Pope Leo XIII. The church and the greater part of the buildings were entirely modernized in 1796. The old Gothic cloisters are preserved.The church contains a fine organ and several ancient sarcophagi.