History

The origin of Serra coincides with the coming of the monk Bruno of Cologne, who was the founder of the Carthusian Order. His three chief virtues were: devotion to God,extreme mortification and great spirit of prayer. Count Roger I of Sicily grant him the lands where the monastery of St. Stephen was built. It was the first monastery of Italy and the second of Europe, after that of Grenoble. The earthquake of 1783 destroyed the old town centre of Serra. That’s why it was called Terravecchia. Spinetto is the newest quarter of the city because it was built after the earthquake.