Castagna del Prete Festival

A festival born from an autumn fruit

The Castagna del Prete Festival is the most anticipated autumn event in Ospedaletto d'Alpinolo, a small town in the province of Avellino, Campania, resting at the foot of the Montevergine massif. For an entire weekend, the historic center transforms into a journey of taste, craftsmanship, and music dedicated to the product that made the town famous throughout Irpinia: the dried and smoked chestnut known as castagna del prete. The event is organized by Pro Loco La Fenice, in collaboration with the Municipality and the Partenio Regional Park.

What is the Castagna del Prete?

It is not just a simple roasted chestnut. Fresh chestnuts are placed on wooden racks inside rooms called gratali: below, a slow fire of chestnut wood burns for about two weeks, drying them completely and giving them their characteristic smoky aroma. The fruit is then toasted for about half an hour and rehydrated in water or wine, making it soft and fragrant again. It is a long and patient traditional process, handed down from generation to generation, which is demonstrated to the public and explained by local producers during the festival.

The flavors of Irpinia at the stalls

The gastronomic heart of the event is spread along the streets and squares of the village. Typical offerings at the stalls include:

• bean soup with chestnuts and porcini mushrooms;
• sausage and porcini mushroom sandwiches;
• smoked caciocavallo with Partenio truffle;
• breaded and fried porcini mushrooms;
• potato fritters and truffle-breaded mozzarella;
• roasted chestnuts and chestnut-based desserts;
• local wine and craft chestnut beer.

The mountain cuisine of Irpinia is showcased here in its most authentic version: few ingredients, all gathered in the Partenio woods, and recipes that follow the rhythm of the seasons.

Music, theater, and village atmosphere

Alongside the food and wine trail, the squares of the historic center—most notably Piazza Umberto I and Piazza Garibaldi—host folk and Mediterranean music concerts, folk groups, dancing, and street performances. There is also a space dedicated to children, with afternoon theatrical performances in the town hall courtyard. The illumination of the alleys, the scent of roasted chestnuts, and the rhythm of the tammorre create an atmosphere that is both a village fair and a civic celebration.

Ospedaletto d'Alpinolo and the Partenio

The town has just over 1,500 inhabitants and has been the gateway to the Sanctuary of Montevergine for centuries, one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in Southern Italy. The municipal territory is part of the Partenio Regional Park, an area of chestnut groves, beech forests, and hiking trails easily accessible from Avellino. Visitors can combine tastings with a trip to the sanctuary, a walk along the park's trails, or a visit to the village's artisan shops, also known for their nougat and chestnut sweets.

An event that grows year by year

Born in the mid-2010s, the event has now surpassed nine editions and has become a staple in the calendar of Irpinian autumn festivals, alongside the great chestnut festivals of Montella and Bagnoli Irpino. The appeal remains that of a community celebration: it is the Pro Loco volunteers, the producers, and the local families who prepare the dishes and welcome visitors, in a historic center that fills with people for two days until late at night.