In antiquity the area, inhospitable, wild, inhabited by wolves and frequented by bandits, was known, as certified by some documents of the first half of the XVI Century, as Valle d'Inferno (Valley of Hell).

[2] In the XVII Century the Vallombrosian Colombino Bassi, from Livorno, decided to establish a church intitulated to St. John Gualbert with annexed a monastery.

During the excavations notable archeological rests were found, including weapons, vases, coins and urns; they were donated to prince Ferdinando de' Medici.

The complex, designed by architect Lorenzi from Livorno, was ultimated in 1697 and was entrusted to the Benedictine monks, from which the locality takes the current deniomination.

In the meantime, in 1694, the road connecting Valle Benedetta with Livorno was opened, having been financed by a rich German merchant, Giovanni Antonio Huygens.