Zampano is a travelling street artist. To give some colour to his sober life a decides to take an assistant (Gelsomina) with him on his travels. Gelsoma is a naive young woman. The world outside of her village is one big mistery to her. Forced by poverty, but full of fear of the unknown, she plunges herself in the adventure.

Zampane tries very hard to learn the -not so talented Gelsomina- the tricks and tails of being a street artist. An unspoken love arises between the two. A relationship in which they cannot live with nor without each other. When they join up a circus, Gelsomina meets the 'fool', who pays a lot of attention to her.

Zampano is brought down by jealousy and starts a fight. This event drives a wedge between Zampano and Gelsomina. A second fight, which turned out to be fatal for the fool, causes the final divorce between Zampano and Gelsomina.

A story in which the search for the purpose of life, hope and love, play a central part.

La Strada is set in Italy and is based on the film of the same name.