Strove – Castle History and Trails in the Montagnola Senese

Strove between Castle Heritage and Scenic Trails

Strove is a small village in the quiet, rural settlement landscape of the Montagnola Senese. Its character reveals itself where the village layout, history, and routes through the landscape come together. If you are looking for a place with tangible historical traces and several described walking and cycling routes for your trip to Tuscany, the focus here is not on a single highlight, but on the combination of the village, trails, regional cuisine, and the surroundings of the Via Francigena.

The Castle in the Village Landscape

The first documented mention of Strove Castle, the so-called “castrum”, dates from 994. Strove was one of the castles belonging to the Lambardi di Staggia family. The present-day settlement form also preserves this history: the circular shape of today’s settlement retains traces of the former castle and its tower in Strove. As you walk through the village, you therefore encounter a structure in which the former fortification remains present not only as a date, but also in the shape of the village.

Walking Along Historic Routes

Stage 32 of the Via Francigena leads on foot from San Gimignano to Monteriggioni and is 31 kilometres long. On this stage, the route passes the Pieve di Strove. The dedication of the church of San Martino indicates Strove’s position along one of the routes of the Via Francigena and supports this interpretation. Another route description leads from Strove to Abbadia a Isola. This walk takes about an hour and passes through woodland and countryside, as well as along an old road lined with dry-stone walls. From the route between Strove and Monteriggioni, there is a view near Abbadia a Isola across the Val d’Elsa and towards Castello di Monteriggioni. In this way, moving through the landscape is combined with a clear view of the valley and the fortress.

Cycling Route, Exterior Views, and Regional Dining

Strove is also part of a named cycling connection: the cycle route from Casole d’Elsa to Monteriggioni reaches Strove after Castel Pietraio. This route crosses the ancient Via Francigena at several points. At the same time, Castelpietraio can only be visited from the outside. When planning your visit, the cycle route and the exterior view of Castelpietraio can therefore be considered as different aspects of the experience. Locanda di Strove offers dishes and products from the region, as well as traditional pizzas. A hostel with 12 sleeping places for hikers is located next to Locanda di Strove. The walking route from Strove to Monteriggioni also passes a farm breeding Cinta Senese pigs, which are kept in semi-wild conditions. This combination of regional cuisine, walking trail, and rural surroundings gives a stay a clear connection to the landscape of the Montagnola Senese.

Discover more destinations

If you would like to expand your selection to include additional destinations, you can also explore Castellina Scalo, Borgonuovo, Lornano, Santa Colomba, Tognazza and Belverde.

Back to the main travel overview: Monteriggioni.