Chestnut Festival of Castel del Rio
The oldest festival in the Bologna Apennines dedicated to the Castel del Rio IGP Chestnut
About Chestnut Festival
The oldest festival in Castel del Rio
The Chestnut Festival of Castel del Rio is the oldest and most characteristic gastronomic event in this mountain village in the Santerno Valley, within the Metropolitan City of Bologna, in Emilia-Romagna. Founded in the 1950s, it reaches its 70th edition in 2026: seven uninterrupted decades of celebration around the fruit that has fed the families of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines for centuries, earning it the nickname "bread tree".
The Castel del Rio IGP Chestnut
The absolute star is the Castel del Rio IGP Chestnut, a chestnut with a sweet and crunchy flesh cultivated for over five centuries on the Apennine slopes rising from the Municipality of Castel del Rio towards the Tuscan border. Protected by the Chestnut Growers Consortium and awarded the prestigious IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) mark, this chestnut is the heart of high-quality chestnut cultivation that still characterizes the centuries-old chestnut groves in the area.
What to eat
The gastronomic stands managed by the Pro Loco Alidosiana offer the chestnut in all its variations, from simple mountain cuisine to more creative reinterpretations:
- Roasted and baked chestnuts cooked on the spot;
- Capaltaz, chestnut tortelli in the local dialect;
- Castagnaccio and chestnut flour polenta;
- Mont blanc, fritters, and chestnut truffles;
- Chestnut jam and other products to take home.
Market and culture
Alongside the food, the festival Sundays host the large IGP chestnut and typical products market, as well as thematic conferences and educational evenings where the history, culture, and gastronomic traditions of the area intertwine. There is no shortage of entertainment and activities suitable for all ages, in an autumnal atmosphere that attracts visitors from Bologna, Romagna, and nearby Tuscany every year.
An autumn in the Santerno Valley
Visiting the Chestnut Festival also means discovering Castel del Rio and its monumental Palazzo Alidosi, immersed in the colours of the chestnut groves in autumn. An ideal trip for those seeking the authentic taste of the Bologna Apennines just a few kilometres from the ridge separating Emilia-Romagna from Tuscany.
Chestnut Festival — edition 2026
In 2026, the Chestnut Festival of Castel del Rio celebrates its 70th edition, spread over four Sundays between October and November: October 11, 18, 25 and November 1. An important milestone for the oldest festival in the village, which has been celebrating the Castel del Rio IGP Chestnut for seventy years.
For each Sunday, the gastronomic stands of the Pro Loco Alidosiana, set up in Piazza della Repubblica and the Palazzo Alidosi area, will offer roasted chestnuts, baked chestnuts, capaltaz, castagnaccio, polenta, and chestnut desserts from morning to evening, alongside the market for IGP chestnuts and typical products of the Bologna Apennines.
Programme Chestnut Festival 2026
For 2026, the festival will again take place over four Sundays — October 11, 18, 25, and November 1 — with the same proven structure as previous editions:
- Gastronomic stands of the Pro Loco Alidosiana in Piazza della Repubblica and the Palazzo Alidosi area, open from morning until evening with roasted chestnuts, baked chestnuts, capaltaz, castagnaccio, polenta, and chestnut desserts;
- Market for Castel del Rio IGP Chestnuts and local typical products;
- Conferences and cultural events dedicated to the history, culture, and gastronomic traditions of the area;
- Entertainment and activities for all ages.
The detailed program for each day, with specific times and initiatives, will be published by the Pro Loco Alidosiana in the weeks leading up to the event. Updates will be available on the Sagre Alidosiane website and the Pro Loco's Facebook page.
Highlights Chestnut Festival 2026
- 70th edition, a milestone of seven decades of tradition;
- Roasted and baked chestnuts from the Castel del Rio IGP Chestnut cooked on the spot;
- Capaltaz, local chestnut tortelli;
- The large market for IGP chestnuts in the heart of the village.
Prices Chestnut Festival 2026
Practical information — Chestnut Festival
When
Four Sundays between October and November. 2026 Edition: October 11, 18, 25 and November 1. The gastronomic stands are open from morning until evening.
Where
Piazza della Repubblica and Palazzo Alidosi area, Castel del Rio (BO), 40022. The village is located along the Santerno Valley, on the road connecting Emilia-Romagna to Tuscany. Parking is available in the designated areas of the village, which can be very crowded on festival Sundays.
How to get there
By car: from Via Montanara (SS 610 Selice-Montanara) which follows the Santerno river from Imola. From Bologna or Romagna, it is best to reach Imola and then follow the signs for Castel del Rio. Parking is available in the designated areas of the village, which can be very crowded on festival Sundays.
Admission and contacts
Free admission; you only pay for what you consume at the stands. Organized by Pro Loco Alidosiana. Information: [email protected], tel. +39 351 648 2510.
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Where does it take place — Chestnut Festival
Piazza della Repubblica e area Palazzo Alidosi
Piazza della Repubblica, 40022 Castel del Rio