Castanetum Flower Festival – Piancastagnaio leg

A nationwide festival for Italy's blooming chestnut groves

The Castanetum Flower Festival is the first national event dedicated to the spectacular blooming of chestnut groves, promoted by the National Association of Chestnut Cities. It is a widespread event that, from June 20 to July 20, 2026, involves numerous Italian regions tied to chestnut traditions, each hosting its own local celebration. Among them is Piancastagnaio, a town in the province of Siena nestled on the slopes of Mount Amiata in Tuscany, which has scheduled its festivities for Saturday, June 27.

Piancastagnaio, the town of the chestnut

Few places embody this festival like Piancastagnaio: the chestnut is literally written into the name of this Amiata village, and for centuries it has defined the economy, cuisine, and landscape of the Sienese mountains. The town's participation in the national festival stems from a desire to celebrate one of the region's deepest identities, focusing on the chestnut groves, their products, and the culture that revolves around them.

Events, tastings, and markets

The June 27 event features events, tastings, markets, and initiatives dedicated to the chestnut and its derivatives. The municipal administration has announced a special focus on products derived from this tree:

• chestnut flour and traditional baked goods;
• chestnut honey;
• craft beers flavored with chestnuts;
• innovative processed goods and chestnut-based cosmetics.

Local shops, bars, restaurants, and producers have been invited to participate with themed menus, displays, and dedicated initiatives, transforming the entire town center into a showcase for the chestnut.

Slow tourism and inland areas

As emphasized by the Councilor for Agriculture, Fabiana Ciancimino, Piancastagnaio's participation is an opportunity to enhance the environmental, cultural, and economic heritage of the chestnut groves and to propose a model of sustainable, slow tourism that is attentive to nature, local products, and inland mountain areas. The festival aims to help visitors rediscover chestnut woods at the height of their bloom, when the canopies turn a soft cream color and scent the air of the Amiata mountains.

An event in the making

As this is the first edition, the detailed program, including specific times and locations, is being finalized by the municipal administration following the registration of local businesses. The setting remains the historic center of Piancastagnaio and its surrounding chestnut groves, for a day that aims to combine regional promotion, community participation, and the discovery of Amiata's flavors.