In this place, in the 10th century, the Arabs built a fortified farmhouse - a massive rectangular structure defended by a corner tower - to protect and oversee the fertile agricultural land surrounding it. The entrance gate has a double closure, one with hinges and the other with a sliding bolt, and it leads to the central body of the farmhouse. To the left of the entrance hall, a pointed-arch doorway leads into the tower: its two superimposed square rooms are each supported by a large pointed arch made of carved stone. Along the walls of the tower are several loopholes and an external corner guard post, more exposed to danger.
The large grain store, located between the outer wall of the farmhouse and the tower, was later converted into a church by order of Roger the Norman, who in 1092 decided to transform what could have become an Arab stronghold into an Augustinian abbey, serving as a center for the evangelization of the Muslims living in the countryside.