Holiday apartment in Strove: Castle History and Via Francigena Routes

Strove is a small village in the peaceful, rural settlement landscape of the Montagnola Senese. Its character is shaped by castle history, ancient paths and regional cuisine. The circular shape of today’s settlement preserves traces of the former castle and its tower.

Castle History in the Village Landscape

The first documented mention of Strove Castle, the so-called “castrum”, dates back to 994. Strove was one of the castles belonging to the Lambardi di Staggia family. The year 994 provides an early chronological reference point for the village’s history. For those interested in culture, it also establishes a specific connection with the Lambardi di Staggia.

The Church of San Martino also points to the village’s history of routes. Its dedication suggests this and supports the classification of Strove as lying along one of the routes of the Via Francigena. Stage 32 leads on foot from San Gimignano to Monteriggioni, is 31 kilometres long and passes the Pieve di Strove.

Hiking Through Forests, Dry-Stone Walls and the Val d’Elsa

The walk from Strove to Abbadia a Isola takes about an hour and leads through woodland and countryside, as well as along an old road lined with dry-stone walls. The view across the Val d’Elsa and towards Castello di Monteriggioni draws attention to both the landscape and the castle. The old road lined with dry-stone walls is therefore a different landscape feature from the view over the Val d’Elsa near Abbadia a Isola.

The cycling route from Casole d’Elsa to Monteriggioni also reaches Strove after Castel Pietraio and crosses the ancient Via Francigena at several points. Castelpietraio can only be viewed from the outside. The cycling route therefore follows its own sequence from Casole d’Elsa via Castel Pietraio and Strove to Monteriggioni. Several crossings with the ancient Via Francigena keep the connection to the historic route present by bike as well. On this cycling route, both the sequence of places and the points where it meets the Via Francigena are significant.

Regional Impressions Around Strove

Local character is also reflected in food and in a detail along the walking route. On the way from Strove to Monteriggioni, you pass a farm raising Cinta Senese pigs, which are kept semi-wild. The Locanda di Strove offers regional dishes and products as well as traditional pizzas. Next to the inn is a hostel with 12 sleeping places for hikers. Along the walking route, an agricultural detail is thus combined with the culinary offerings of the Locanda di Strove. This makes it easy to link a break thematically to the regional cuisine.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

For further trip planning, you can also compare these places: Santa Colomba, Belverde, Lornano, Castellina Scalo, Tognazza and Borgonuovo.

For the higher-level travel overview: Monteriggioni.