Chestnut and Marroni Festival of Chiusani

The chestnut festival in Oltrepò Pavese

The Chestnut and Marroni Festival takes place every autumn in the hamlet of Chiusani, a small part of the Municipality of Rocca Susella, in the hills of Oltrepò Pavese, in the province of Pavia. It is one of the longest-running festivals in the area, now in its thirtieth edition, and celebrates the fruit that for centuries has supported the economy of these mountain villages: the chestnut and the prized marrone.

Chestnuts, marroni, and peasant cuisine

The heart of the day are the chestnuts and marroni from Chiusani, displayed and sold at the market, and the peasant lunch that brings visitors and locals together around traditional flavours. Stalls of typical Oltrepò products offer cured meats, cheeses, honey, wines, and local specialities, while the air fills with the aroma of roasted chestnuts. The atmosphere is that of the genuine and folkloric Apennine village festivals, where the community gathers at the end of the season.

The Chestnut Walk

A distinctive element of the festival is the Chestnut Walk, a guided excursion to discover the territory of Chiusani: a naturalistic loop of about 4 km with a difference in altitude of about a hundred metres, which crosses mixed woods, chestnut groves, and ancient marroni trees in the enchanting landscape of Val Ardivestra. It is an opportunity to combine the gastronomic festival with the discovery of the environment that produces the star chestnut.

Between patron saint and tradition

Rocca Susella, a village of just over two hundred inhabitants, celebrates its patron saints Peter and Paul, but it is the autumn festival of Chiusani that represents the greatest attraction for visitors, drawing chestnut enthusiasts, hikers, and lovers of good food from Oltrepò Pavese every year.