Atto was born around 1070. Spanish historian
Enrique Flórez thought Atto was from
Badajoz in Extremadura, Spain close to the Portuguese border. A Portuguese source says he was born in
Beja, Portugal. He went as a pilgrim to Italy, and stopped at
Vallombrosa Abbey where he was welcomed by the abbot, Bernardo degli Uberti. He became abbott-general around 1120. He wrote lives of
John Gualbert and
Bernard degli Uberti,
bishop of Parma. This later gave rise to a chapel dedicated to St. James. This had both economic and political ramifications, as pilgrims soon began to come to Pistoia to honor the saint. ==References==