Things started to change with the arrival of the "smooth sea road" in the early 19th century, which prompted the Filiani family to build a summer residence, the Villa Filiani. With the arrival of the Adriatic railway in 1860, this became the headquarters of their agricultural estates and industrial interests. There was much discussion whether the station should be in Atri or in the "comune" of Mutignano; Giacinto Filiani granted land for the construction of the Atri-Mutignano station and the prosperity of the area was ensured. Filiani built shops at the station approach, and a small community developed, but there was relatively little residential development until after World War I.