Montecristo was made famous by the French novelist Alexandre Dumas in his classic The Count of Monte Cristo, a story of revenge, honour and buried treasure.
Mamilian of Palermo spent time on the island of Montecristo in the fifth century, and constructed a monasteryon the island.

The cave of San Mamiliano is a sacred place located on the Island of Montecristo in the Tuscan Archipelago. The island’s monastic vocation has its roots in the mid-fifth century and it is linked to the figure of St. Mamiliano, the bishop of Palermo. According to tradition, the saint came to the island with other monks in efforts to escape an attack by the Vandals. Along the slopes of Monte della Fortezza (where you can find the remains of a fort built by the Appiani population in the late fourteenth century), you’ll find the cave which is said to have been the abode of the holy hermit. According to devout legend, the saint killed a dragon there, using a cross as his shield. Inside, there are numerous votive offerings that bear witness to the pilgrimages of sailors and pilgrims throughout the centuries. [3]

Il duomo di Sovana, tomba di San Mamiliano [1]