For many Italians, Autumn means castagne (roasted chestnuts). People eat them at home and at local seasonal fairs. These festivals are called Castagnate, and they are one of Italy’s most charming events. In this article, we’ll explore what castagnata means, how chestnuts shaped Italian tradition, why they symbolize autumn, and where you can experience the best Castagnate in Le Marche.
What Does Castagnata Mean?
The word Castagnata literally means “chestnut feast” or “chestnut fair”. It’s a cold season festival dedicated to the harvest and roasting of chestnuts, one of Italy’s oldest rural traditions. Chestnuts have been a part of the Italian diet for thousands of years, from old times when hunters and farmers lived off what hills and mountains could offer.
During a Castagnata, towns celebrate this beloved fruit with wood fires, street food stalls and markets. It’s the perfect time to taste local wine and reunite with friends. Some towns organise group chestnut harvest in the woods. It’s a moment of community, and celebration of Autumn and its earthy products.
These events usually take place between October and early November, depending on the weather and the local harvest calendar.
Castagna in Italy: A Precious Resource
The chestnut has always played a key role in Italian rural life. Before potatoes and corn arrived from the Americas, chestnut flour was the main ingredient in many traditional dishes, including breads, soups and desserts.
Chestnuts were often called “il pane dei poveri” (the bread of the poor) because they provided essential nutrition to families living in mountainous areas. Regions like Toscana, Piemonte, Umbria, and Le Marche were famous for their chestnut groves and for keeping the tradition alive through generations.
Castagna Means Autumn
In Italy, the smell and sound of roasting chestnuts mark the beginning of autumn.
Castagne can be bought in local fruttivendoli shops (fruit and greens sellers), and in supermarkets. It’s common to see roadside signs offering Castagne for sale, sometimes sold directly by local vendors and farmers. True chestnuts lovers take trips to forests to collect local varieties there. In Le Marche, chestnuts grow especially well in the Apennine areas.
It’s also the season for vino cotto, castagnaccio (a sweet made with chestnut flour), and polenta, making it one of the most flavorful times of the year in central Italy.
A Castagnata is, in many ways, a goodbye to summer, and a celebration of everything that makes autumn special: family gatherings, local produce, and cozy evenings by the fire.
The Best Castagnate in Le Marche
If you’re traveling through Le Marche between mid-October and early November, you’ll likely stumble upon a Castagnata. But a few towns stand out for keeping the tradition alive in the most authentic way.
Smerillo (Fermo)
One of the most beloved events in the Fermo province area, located in Smerillo, a beautiful small Borgo with amazing views of Le Marche. The 300-habitants town transforms into a fairground with local artisans, food stalls, and live folk music.
Acquasanta Terme (Ascoli Piceno)
Located in the heart of the Sibillini Mountains, this town is known for their Festa d’Autunno. Local chestnuts are roasted in massive pans, and visitors can taste everything from roasted castagne to chestnut beer and sweet desserts.
Montemonaco (Monti Sibillini area)
Known for its beautiful views and mountain air, Montemonaco hosts an autumn festival that combines chestnuts, local truffles, and vino cotto tastings.
Camerino and Sarnano
University students and locals come together for lively weekends filled with traditional foods, wine, and music. Camerino’s Castagnata usually includes guided forest walks to collect chestnuts before the roasting begins.
Trisungo di Arquata del Tronto
Perhaps one of the oldest Castagnate in Le Marche, where you’ll find both marroni (larger, sweet chestnuts) and castagne cooked over open fires, music by folk groups and wine from the surrounding hills.
Key Takeaways
- A Castagnata is a traditional Italian festival celebrating chestnut harvests, usually held between October and mid-November.
- It’s an occasion to enjoy roasted chestnuts, vino cotto, polenta, and other autumn delicacies.
- The event is both a social and cultural gathering, rooted in Italy’s rural heritage.
- Le Marche offers some of the most authentic Castagnate in Italy, often organized in small towns across the Apennines.
- Experiencing a Castagnata is an opportunity to experience the essence of autumn in central Italy.