The Val d'Aveto, or the Aveto Valley, is a region between the provinces of Liguria and Emilia-Romagna. It was under the control of the Malaspina and Fieschi families during the late Middle Ages.
Paolo de Sancto Stephano was a notary who was active during the late fourteenth and early fifteenth century. He was attested as working in Monterosso al Mare in 1404.