Religious Italian witchcraft was a focus of the work of folklorist Charles G. Leland who interviewed people in old Italy claiming to be witches (as evidenced in his books Etruscan Romain Remains, and especially Aradia: Gospel of the Witches). Stregheria practioners hold Aradia and the work of other historians as important to the understanding of their religious practice and the background of their tradition. Unlike most other religious witchcraft traditions, with the exception of Gardnerian Wicca, Stregheria has received attention from the academic community.

Stregheria has both similarities and differences with Wicca, and in some ways resembles other culturally-based Neopagan religions. Practices include the celebration of seasonal holidays, ritual magic, and reverance for Gods, ancestors and tradition-specific spirits. Stregheria itself has variant traditions, and individual practices may vary considerably.