Castagnata di Fontanigorda

The chestnut festival in the Trebbia Valley

The Castagnata di Fontanigorda is the traditional autumn festival of the small village of Fontanigorda, in the Upper Trebbia Valley, in the province of Genoa. For over thirty years, on the last Sunday of October, Piazza della Chiesa fills with the aroma of roasted chestnuts and people from all over the valley and from Genoa.

Free roasted chestnuts for everyone

The heart of the festival is the quintals of roasted chestnuts, cooked in various ways, offered free of charge along with sweet and savoury cakes and biscuits, lovingly homemade by the village women, and accompanied by plenty of new wine. The free nature is a distinctive feature: the castagnata is indeed a charity festival, with proceeds supporting the local Public Assistance.

Music and community

The day is enlivened by music and dancing, with a traditional orchestra accompanying the festival. The entire community mobilises for the organisation, making the castagnata a moment of solidarity and identity for Fontanigorda.

The Ligurian Apennines in autumn

For those who love authentic villages and flavours, the Castagnata di Fontanigorda is the perfect opportunity to discover the Upper Trebbia Valley in autumn, amidst chestnut woods, fresh air, and the warm hospitality of a village that does not want to surrender to the end of summer.