[2] The political power in the upper Blenio valley was in the hands of a branch of the De Torre family.

They owned land in Olivone and possessed the patronage rights in the parish church until the oath of Torre in 1182 ended their supremacy.

In 1213 the villages of Olivone and Aquila revolted and united against the Da Locarno family, who had been given power over the valley by canons of Milan.

The L'assemblea di uomini liberi (The Assembly of the Free), which is first mentioned in 1136, provided for the management of common forests, alpine pastures and helped maintain the Lukmanier and Greina passes.

By the end of the 14th century the L'assemblea di uomini liberi took advantage of Olivone's lease on the Santa Maria alpine pasture, which belonged to the abbey of Disentis.

Olivone retained its agricultural character, but in 1956 it became home to the Blenio Kraftwerke AG power plant and certain construction companies.