As already mentioned, the Malavilla is a fortified farmhouse; consequently, it was built around two key principles: defence and self-sufficiency. On the ground floor, the fortified house features a stable area to house the animals essential for the inhabitants’ food supply. One must certainly not imagine that animals such as sheep or cows were kept locked inside the fortified house at all times: they were taken out to graze and to the nearby Rio Fabiola to drink, but, once back inside, they could be sheltered safely, protected by the wooden door, which was bolted from the inside with sturdy oak posts. Furthermore, the internal staircase, once retracted to the upper floor, ensured that, should anyone manage to enter the lower level, they would never be able to reach the living quarters. On the ground floor, there are several details of great interest that bear witness to the ingenuity of the Malavilla’s architectural design. On the side opposite the entrance, a loophole has been created, used to protect the house and to provide a little light to the room. On the side, there are niches for candles or oil lamps, some formed by large sandstone slabs creating a sort of mitre arch. Finally, on the right-hand side, a charcoal drawing was discovered depicting a soldier in profile wearing a Prussian helmet.