On September 16th1495, Pope Alexander VI, alias Rodrigo Borgia, agreed to a request made by the Archbishop of Sabina to move the Sabina cathedral from the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Vescovio to San Liberatore in Magliano.This decision was met with the indignation of all the villages and castles in the Vescovio area which, captained by the powerful Orsini family, already hostile towards the Pope, rebelled against the Pope’s decree. In the midst of the ensuing protests, the inhabitants of San Polo Castle took possession of the important religious relics that were kept in Vescovio. They did this to prevent the relics from being transferred to the new Magliano cathedral. As a reaction, the Pope declared the little village of San Polo off-limits as punishment for the outrageous theft perpetrated by its inhabitants. On the death of Pope Alexander VI, the so-called warrior Pope, Giulio II, was elected. He was so completely absorbed in restoring Rome’s power, that he forgot all about San Polo Castle and the virtual ex-communication of its inhabitants. The people continued to live for several years without taking communion… until the Madonna intervened. Mary’s appearance, more than 500 hundred years ago under a nut tree, freed the castle from its prohibitive state and brought the sinful villagers of San Polo back into the arms of the Church. Ever since then, each year in June, this event is celebrated by the people of San Polo. After three days of penitence, they accompany St. Barnaby in a long procession through the village streets. Don Carmelo and the old inhabitants of the village tell the story full of interesting historical and still meaningful events throughout the Sabina countryside.