Strada: Stonework and History

Strada in Casentino tells the story of its origins as a market town for the Solano Valley and of a centuries-old stoneworking tradition. The town’s history includes the Castello dei Guidi and its chapels; other points of interest are Romanesque church architecture, works of art from different centuries, and the working of Pietra serena. Strada thus offers several specific starting points for a cultural and historical trip.

Castle, Chapels, and Local History

Strada originated as a market town for the Solano Valley, near the bridge to Castel San Niccolò. Its historic role as a market town and its connection to the bridge provide two specific starting points for exploring the town’s history. The ancient Castello dei Guidi rises above Strada; together with the ancient Torre dell’Orologio, it forms part of the historic skyline above the town.

The Castello dei Guidi complex includes the chapels of San Niccolò and del Crocifisso. The Cappella del Crocifisso contains a 14th-century Crucifixion fresco from the Florentine school. This makes it possible to distinguish between the group of buildings and a single work of art: the chapels belong to the complex, while the fresco is identified more precisely by its subject, artistic classification, and date.

Churches, Piazza, and Works of Art

The Pieve di San Martino a Vado is located near the former ford across the Torrente Solano. It is one of the most important Romanesque churches in Casentino and the only parish church in the region to have preserved its original façade. Both its Romanesque architecture and this distinctive feature of its façade are therefore relevant to understanding the Pieve.

Piazza Matteotti is defined by the five-aisled Logge del Grano, with round arches made of Pietra serena and a historic tented roof structure. These details give the loggia a distinctive architectural profile: its layout, the shape of its arches, its material, and its roof structure are all specified. Pietra serena is also mentioned in connection with Strada’s stoneworking tradition, but this does not establish a specific origin for the material used in the loggia.

Another artistic highlight is the Cappella della Visitazione. It contains a panel depicting the “Immacolata Incoronata” by Santi di Tito, dated 1580. There is also the painting “Vergine con bambino e Santi” by Giovan Francesco Guerrieri, dating to around 1600. The two works can be distinguished by their artists and different dates.

Stoneworking Tradition and Museo della Pietra Lavorata

Strada is known for its centuries-old stoneworking tradition, which is connected to local Pietra serena quarries and the work of many stonemasons from the region. The Museo della Pietra Lavorata is housed in the former Salesian college in Strada in Casentino. It presents the history, techniques, and tools of Strada’s stonemasons; the techniques and tools presented there are still used today. Alongside the buildings, the craft and its tools are thus central themes in their own right.

Recurring Exhibition and Summer Workshops

The Mostra della Pietra Lavorata takes place every two years toward the end of August in Strada in Casentino. It showcases works by artists and masters of stoneworking. If you would like to plan your trip around the exhibition, check the exact festival dates in advance.

In summer, the Museo della Pietra Lavorata offers workshops for children on working with stone. If you would like to include one of these workshops in your plans, check the dates before your trip. The exhibition and the workshops offer different ways to engage with the subject: the Mostra showcases works by artists and master stonemasons, while the summer workshops focus on working with stone.

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