Gallina: Pilgrimage History and Local Festivals in the Val d’Orcia

Gallina owes its distinctive character to its history as a pilgrimage station. The settlement developed at the point where the Via Cassia coincided with the old Via Francigena. Those interested in historic routes, regional culture, and the landscape of the Val d’Orcia will find several themes here that can be combined when planning a trip.

Historic traces around Gallina

Gallina was historically known as Osteria della Scala. La Scala near Gallina was also a Renaissance-era postal station. In some agricultural buildings, former accommodations for travelers and pilgrims can still be identified. The settlement therefore preserves concrete evidence of a past in which travelers, pilgrims, and the infrastructure of historic long-distance routes played an important role.

La Scala is also associated with several historical figures and works. Casanova stayed there in 1770. Charles Dickens describes La Scala in his 1846 work “Pictures from Italy.” These connections complement the architectural traces with different perspectives on the same historic place, without implying any present-day use or current offering.

Le Briccole and the Churches of Gallina

About one kilometer south of Gallina, near the Cassia, lies the Le Briccole estate complex with the small Romanesque church of San Pellegrino. Le Briccole is considered to be 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. For visitors interested in cultural history, several traces of pilgrimage and travel history are concentrated here in one place.

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. Thus, alongside the medieval-influenced stations and buildings, Gallina also has a more recent religious building that introduces a different period into the history of the settlement.

Via Francigena and Practical Orientation

Stage 36 of the Via Francigena runs from San Quirico to Radicofani and is 32.5 km long. Access to Gallina along this Via Francigena route leads for approximately 4 to 5 km via the Strada del Pozzo and offers a special view across the valley. The different distances help you place the historic route and your stay in Gallina within your own travel pace.

At the Gallina station on this Via Francigena stage, water and cafés are available about 500 meters from the route on the Via Cassia. This information is relevant when planning a stage if you would like to include a short refreshment break along the way. The route reference remains clear: these amenities are not directly on the route, but on the Via Cassia.

Festivals, Pasta, and Walks

Gallina combines its historic route landscape with regional events. Valdorcia in Fiera is an annual agricultural and food-related event in Gallina. It takes place on the third Saturday and Sunday in May. It includes the traditional “Passeggiata nel cuore della Valdorcia,” a walking route considered suitable for everyone.

Another regular event is the Sagra della pastasciutta valdorciana. It takes place in Gallina on the third weekend of August, from morning until evening. At this festival, pasta is offered in various shapes and colors. It is made by local producers using raw materials from the hills of the Val d’Orcia.

The Sagra della pastasciutta valdorciana also includes a fresh-pasta workshop. Children and adults can learn there, under instruction, how handmade pasta is produced. In addition to its culinary aspect, the festival therefore offers a practical activity that may be of interest to families traveling together and to visitors interested in regional food culture.

Which Priorities Suit Your Trip

When choosing a hotel in Gallina, you can consciously set the focus of your trip. The Via Francigena connections, Le Briccole, and the historic traces of La Scala provide orientation for days centered on cultural and pilgrimage history. The two events, the regionally produced pasta, and the workshop, on the other hand, place local food and shared experiences in the foreground. Those who combine different interests can consider Gallina as a base for planning a trip that brings together historic places, a described walking route, and seasonally scheduled events.

More Destinations for Your Trip Planning

If you would like to compare other places in addition to Gallina, you can find Castellina In Chianti, Scalvaia, Radda / Chianti, Torri, Buonconvento, Monteriggioni, San Gimignano and Campriano.

For the higher-level travel overview: Siena.