Barga Chestnut Festival

A festival that smells of autumn

Barga Chestnut Festival is one of the most cherished autumn events in the Serchio Valley. Every year, between late October and early November, Piazza Pascoli in the historic center of Barga—one of Italy's most beautiful villages in the province of Lucca—transforms into the kingdom of the chestnut. The event is organized by the Barga Pro Loco in collaboration with the Municipality of Barga and attracts visitors from all over Tuscany and beyond.

The chestnut, queen of the Barga mountains

The territory of Barga and its surrounding mountains has been linked for centuries to chestnut cultivation and the production of chestnut flour, a historic staple for Apennine communities. This ancient tradition is the heart of the festival: a tribute to a humble fruit that for generations served as the "bread of the woods" for the Garfagnana and Media Valle regions.

Traditional flavors

At the stalls set up for the occasion, you can taste local autumn specialties prepared according to time-honored recipes:

• Mondine (roasted chestnuts), roasted on the spot by the famous local roasters
• Necci with ricotta or cream, the typical chestnut flour waffles
• Castagnaccio and bombonecci, traditional rustic desserts
• Fritters, sandwiches, and mulled wine to warm up on autumn evenings

Program and atmosphere

Beyond the culinary offerings, with lunches and dinners in the square, Barga Chestnut Festival features live music every evening, dancing, traditional games for all ages, and the chestnut roasters' competition, a local challenge that crowns the best chestnut roaster of the year. There are also moments of solidarity and family-oriented initiatives, making the festival an event for all generations.

A village to discover

Visiting Barga during the festival is also the perfect opportunity to discover one of Tuscany's most fascinating villages: the Romanesque Cathedral, the narrow alleys of the historic center, and the views of the Apuan Alps and the Apennines provide the perfect backdrop for an event that blends taste, tradition, and hospitality. Barga Chestnut Festival has become an unmissable stop in the Tuscan autumn.