Discover Gallina

Gallina brings together pilgrimage history, landscapes and regional festivals. The town is particularly interesting if you would like to discover the Val d’Orcia not only as a landscape, but also through its routes, historic sites and culinary traditions. Gallina is part of the municipality of Castiglione d’Orcia; its territory lies within the Valdorcia Park, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2 July 2004.

Pilgrimage history and historic sites

Gallina developed as a pilgrimage station at the point where the Via Cassia coincided with the old Via Francigena. Historically, the town was known as Osteria della Scala. The area’s history also includes La Scala near Gallina: the complex was a Renaissance-era post station. Some of the agricultural buildings still show traces of former accommodation for travellers and pilgrims. Casanova stayed at La Scala in 1770. Another historic point of reference is the Le Briccole estate complex, located near the Cassia about one kilometre south of Gallina. Gallina is a hamlet of the municipality of Castiglione d’Orcia. The estate complex contains a small Romanesque church dedicated to San Pellegrino. Le Briccole is considered Abricula, the eleventh station in the travel account of Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury. An old hospice has been preserved next to the church, where Francis of Assisi spent the night. Santa Maria dei Campi is Gallina’s parish church. It was built between the end of the 1960s and the first half of the 1970s. Different historical periods therefore meet in and around Gallina: medieval pilgrimage routes, a Renaissance post station and a 20th-century church building.

Via Francigena and routes through the Val d’Orcia

The Via Francigena also makes Gallina interesting for visitors who would like to combine their trip with a longer section of the route. Stage 36 from San Quirico to Radicofani is 32.5 km long. Access to Gallina along the Via Francigena leads for approximately 4 to 5 km along the Strada del Pozzo and offers a special view across the valley. At the Gallina station on this stage, water and cafés are available about 500 metres from the route on the Via Cassia.

Regional festivals and pasta from the Val d’Orcia

Valdorcia in Fiera is an agricultural and food-related event in Gallina and takes place on the third Saturday and Sunday in May. A second regular event is the Sagra della pastasciutta valdorciana, held on the third weekend in August from morning until evening. Pasta in various shapes and colours is offered there. Local producers make it using raw materials from the hills of the Val d’Orcia. The Sagra also includes a fresh-pasta workshop. Children and adults can learn there, under guidance, how handmade pasta is produced. This programme item offers a tangible insight into the area’s culinary tradition, especially for families who would like to combine culture and regional cuisine, without limiting their stay to sightseeing alone. If you would like to compare other destinations in the same broader area, you can also find Bibbiano, Abbadia San Salvatore, Asciano, Buonconvento, Presciano, Sarteano, Toiano and Monteroni D'arbia.

For the broader travel overview: Siena.