It was the fortress that controlled access to the Valle d'Agrò: along the course of the stream, positioned on the north side. It is a fortified monastery, which exercised a defensive function, with loopholes, windows, battlements and a walkable roof. Even the monks were equipped not only with sais and sandals, but above all with weapons and swords, due to the particular condition of isolation of the Monastery. It is the best preserved in the province of Messina: characterized by the polychromy of the lava stone, basalt and light black pumice stone, limestone, and terracotta, used in various ways: in parallel layers of cut, with a wolf tooth knife, in order to create chromatic contrasts.

Considering the dating of the restoration, which took place in 1172, thanks to the contribution of the abbot Gerasimo and the architect Gerardo il Franco, the monastery constitutes the prototype, the forerunner of what will be the great patrimony of the Norman cathedrals of Messina, Catania, Monreale and Cefalù. The territory was already frequented in Roman times, as evidenced by the village of Scifì, a hamlet of Forza d'Agrò.

In the structure of the church we find a series of Greek bricks, while various theses argue that most of the stone materials, such as the columns, come from the Ancient Theater of Taormina.