Cave Chestnut and Local Products Festival

One of the longest-running autumn festivals in Lazio

The Cave Chestnut and Local Products Festival is one of the most anticipated autumn events in the province of Rome. Organized by Pro Loco Cave in the heart of the historic center of Cave, at the foot of the Prenestini Mountains, the event reaches its 92nd edition in 2026: a milestone that makes it one of the most deeply rooted and long-standing food and wine festivals in the entire Lazio region. For three days, the alleys, small squares, and courtyards of the medieval village are filled with the aroma of roasted chestnuts, music, and visitors arriving from across the region.

The chestnut, queen of Cave

Cave sits at an altitude of about 400 meters, surrounded by vast chestnut and coppice woods that have defined the Prenestini landscape for centuries. The Marrone di Cave is recognized as one of the traditional agri-food products of Lazio, and the festival is dedicated entirely to this chestnut. The absolute stars are the roasted chestnuts, cooked in special braziers along the town's streets, but the festival is also an opportunity to rediscover local culinary delights.

Traditional flavors

The food stalls and local cellars offer regional specialties, including:

• gnocchetti a sassetto, typical of Cave's local cuisine;
• the serpetta, a characteristic S-shaped pastry;
• roasted chestnuts, chestnut-based desserts, and baked goods;
• wines and typical products from the Castelli Romani and the Prenestini Mountains.

Beyond food: events and traditions

The Cave Chestnut Festival is not just a celebration of food. The program combines tastings with numerous cultural, sporting, and entertainment events:

• the Bicicastagnata, a historic 45 km cycle-touring ride through the Prenestini hills;
• the artisan market, featuring over 40 craft and hobby exhibitors in the historic center;
• live concerts, street music, folk dances, and performances;
• nature walks through the chestnut groves and guided tours of the village, including the Civic Museum dedicated to the painter Luigi Ferri.

A village to discover

The festival is also an invitation to explore Cave, an ancient town nestled between Rome and the Sacco Valley. The stunning medieval village, with its alleys, arches, and hidden courtyards, provides the perfect backdrop for the event and offers visitors the intimate atmosphere of small Lazio towns. Its location, about forty kilometers from the capital, makes Cave easily accessible for an autumn excursion in the Prenestini Mountains region.

Not to be confused with the Chestnut Festival held in the nearby Rocca di Cave, a separate neighboring municipality: the Chestnut and Local Products Festival takes place entirely within the municipal territory of Cave.