Chestnut Festival

The Chestnut Festival in Careggine

Every autumn, the village of Careggine, perched on the slopes of the Apuan Alps in Garfagnana, dedicates a day to the fruit that has sustained and supported mountain communities for centuries: the chestnut. The Chestnut Festival takes place in Piazza del Municipio, transforming the town center into a vibrant market of flavors, scents, and traditions of the Tuscan Apennines.

Chestnuts in Every Form

The undisputed star is, of course, the chestnut—the queen of the valley's peasant cuisine. Along the stalls and food stands, you can sample traditional specialties: mondine (roasted chestnuts), necci (thin chestnut flour crepes, often filled with ricotta), and castagnaccio, the quintessential rustic dessert. Everything is paired with the essential mulled wine, perfect for the crisp early days of October.

Lunch with Polenta and Ossi

At midday, the heart of the festival is the convivial lunch, featuring the famous sweet chestnut polenta served with ossi (pork bones), a typical Garfagnana dish that combines chestnut flour with pork. It is the perfect opportunity to sit at the table with locals and visitors alike to enjoy authentic rural cuisine.

Market, Exhibitions, and Hikes

Beyond the food, the day features an Autumn Fair with stalls showcasing local artisanal products, as well as various exhibitions. For nature lovers, guided hikes are organized in the surrounding woods, including walks along the Via del Castagno to discover chestnut groves and metati—the ancient drying sheds where chestnuts were once cured. Live music accompanies the entire event, creating a lively, festive atmosphere.

A Garfagnana Village to Discover

Careggine, in the municipality of the same name in the province of Lucca, is one of many small villages that preserve the identity of Garfagnana, a land nestled between the Apuan Alps and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. The Chestnut Festival, organized by the Monte Sumbra Association, is one of many autumn festivals in Tuscany that celebrate the chestnut civilization—a cultural and gastronomic heritage that truly deserves to be rediscovered.