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Pirate raids, which from late antiquity to the 17th century continually plagued the coasts of the southern seas, did not spare the island of Procida, causing mourning and extensive damage despite the gradual strengthening of the defences of the fortified citadel of Terra Murata. This medieval village, about 90 metres above sea level, developed on the site of the island's first settlement, perched on a steep tuffaceous ridge, the highest point and safe haven. The historic centre of Procida, Terra Murata is reached by a steep climb up to the 'Castello' (Palazzo d'Avalos, 1563, converted in 1830 into a prison until 1988) and the panoramic terrace, where two cannons from the Neapolitan Republic of 1799 are on display, overlooking the Gulf of Naples with a boundless view. Fables and myths are passed down in the village, and one of the most beloved legends is linked to one of the violent Saracen incursions, featuring St Michael the Archangel, the island's patron saint. In 1534 the archangel's prodigious intervention, descending from the heavens to the rescue armed with a sword of fire, unleashed a storm of flaming lightning and sent the pirates of the famous Barbarossa fleeing, saving Terra Murata from plundering and destruction. The Benedictine abbey of Terra Murata, the result of ancient transformations, is dedicated to St Michael Archangel. Dating back to the 11th century (but the first nucleus may date back to the end of the 6th century), elements from the Roman era reused in the structures confirm the continuity of the cult function of the area over the centuries and the church (1026) seems to overlap with the remains of a temple dedicated to Neptune. Among the paintings made after the Baroque renovation in the 17th century, kept in the choir of the church, is St Michael the Archangel Protecting the Island of Procida (Nicola Russo, 1690), which offers a detailed view of Procida in the 17th century and recalls the archangel's feat against the pirates.