Strove – Village History and the Via Francigena

Strove is a small village in the quiet, rural settlement landscape of the Montagnola Senese. Two special perspectives can help you plan your trip: the circular settlement layout and its castle history, and the routes that connect Strove with the Via Francigena and the surrounding countryside.

Castle History in the Village Layout

The first documented mention of Strove Castle, the so-called “castrum,” dates back to 994. In the Middle Ages, Strove was one of the castles belonging to the Lambardi di Staggia family. The circular shape of today’s settlement preserves traces of the former castle and its tower. The historical reference and the traditional settlement layout thus emerge as two distinct aspects of the village’s history.

The Church of San Martino is also connected with this historical interpretation: its dedication suggests, and supports the theory, that Strove lay on one of the routes of the Via Francigena. This cautious interpretation complements the specific routes that are associated with the village today.

Walking Routes and the Via Francigena

Stage 32 of the Via Francigena runs on foot from San Gimignano to Monteriggioni, covers 31 kilometers, and passes by the Pieve di Strove. The route from Strove to Abbadia a Isola is a different route: it takes about an hour and passes through woods and countryside, as well as along an old road lined with dry-stone walls. For your planning, this distinction makes the scale of each route clear—a roughly one-hour walk to Abbadia a Isola, compared with the 31-kilometer stage between San Gimignano and Monteriggioni. Check route conditions before setting out.

Strove is also part of a cycling route from Casole d’Elsa to Monteriggioni: it reaches the village after Castel Pietraio and crosses the ancient Via Francigena at several points. The walking stage, the shorter route to Abbadia a Isola, and the cycling route therefore offer different ways to understand the area’s connections, without referring to the same routes.

Countryside and Surroundings

On the route between Strove and Monteriggioni, Abbadia a Isola offers views across the Val d’Elsa and toward the Castello di Monteriggioni. A walking path from Strove to Monteriggioni also passes a farm raising Cinta Senese pigs, which are kept semi-wild. The countryside along these routes is therefore associated not only with views, but also with a local form of animal husbandry.

The route details help distinguish excursions by destination and length: an approximate duration is given for Abbadia a Isola, while the Via Francigena stage is described by its endpoints and total length. The view at Abbadia a Isola and the farm along the walking path to Monteriggioni offer further specific landmarks to help you choose.

Accommodation and Dining

Next to the Locanda di Strove is a hostel with twelve beds for hikers. Availability may change, so check in advance if you would like to stay there. The Locanda di Strove offers regional dishes and products, as well as traditional pizzas. This offering may also change.

For the broader travel overview: Monteriggioni.