Archaeological evidence indicates human habitation of the area in the earlyBronze Age (c. 1850 BCE), but the foundation of the town is more recent. It has been suggested that Palma was founded in the sixth century CE by people taking refuge from the eruptions ofMount Vesuvius; alternatively it may be linked to aRoman consul named Palma who held office at the beginning of the first century CE.
Remains of the ancient RomanAqua Augusta aqueduct feeding the bay of Naples are nearby atPonte Tirone.
The oldest building still standing is the ninth-century church of San Martino, in thefrazione Vico. The earliest extant documentary record of the place dates to 997. During the Middle Ages the town's fortunes were linked to the noble familiesDi Palma,Orsini,Della Tolfa,Pignatelli,Di Bologna,Caracciolo,Salluzzo, andCompagna.[3]
