Chestnut Festival

A festival born around the Marrone di Roccadaspide PGI

The Chestnut Festival is the event through which Roccadaspide, a village in the Cilento hinterland in the province of Salerno, pays tribute to the product that has most defined its economy and landscape: the Marrone di Roccadaspide PGI. Chestnut cultivation on these hills is documented back to the Middle Ages and has shaped the hillsides surrounding the town for centuries; the Protected Geographical Indication, recognized in 2008, provided an official framework for an ancient farming tradition, now overseen by the Consortium for the Protection of the Marrone di Roccadaspide PGI, whose production area spans dozens of municipalities in the Cilento and Vallo di Diano regions.

The event is therefore not just a simple village fair: it is the annual showcase for a supply chain involving producers, processing companies, and restaurateurs from the entire district, and a moment when the Roccadaspide community comes together in its streets.

The historic center becomes a food and wine trail

The heart of the festival is the food and wine trail that starts from Piazza XX Settembre and winds through the alleys and stairways of the historic center. Along the route, taverns and tasting stations offer the chestnut in every possible form, from first courses to desserts, accompanied by other typical Cilento products.

• Dishes and specialties based on chestnuts and marrons, and traditional village sweets
• Typical Cilento products: bread, cheeses, cured meats, and local wines
• Roasted chestnuts offered for free to visitors, prepared on-site throughout the event
• Craft stalls and local producer stands

In recent editions, the trail has been open for both lunch and dinner on holidays, allowing for better crowd management and the opportunity to experience the village in daylight.

Music, folklore, and performances in the square

Alongside the gastronomy, every evening features a program of live performances in the square and the historic center's open spaces. The artistic selection favors Southern folk music, with tammurriata and Campanian folk singing groups, alternating with singer-songwriter acts and dance performances. There are also more unusual events, such as the vintage car gathering that has enlivened the final morning in Piazza XX Settembre in recent editions.

Castello Filomarino and the chestnut groves

One of the elements that distinguishes the Chestnut Festival is the opening of Castello Filomarino, the manor that dominates the town. During the event, it hosts conferences, tours, and in-depth sessions on chestnut farming, product marketing, and the future of the industry. Around the village, excursions into the chestnut groves are also offered, allowing visitors to see the centuries-old trees up close and understand the bond between the product and the Cilento landscape.

Who organizes the festival

The organization is entrusted to the Roccadaspide Youth Forum together with the Municipality of Roccadaspide, with the contribution of local associations such as Eventi dell'Aspide and Tu sei favola APS, and the support of the Marrone PGI Protection Consortium. It is a volunteer-driven effort, largely run by young people, that every autumn sets the taverns, setups, and logistics in motion for an event that welcomes visitors from all over Campania.

When it takes place and what to expect

The Chestnut Festival is traditionally held between late October and early November, taking advantage of the All Saints' Day long weekend: in the 2023, 2024, and 2025 editions, it took place during those days, lasting three or four days. Those arriving in Roccadaspide during that period will find a village that comes alive at night, with lights along the alleys, the smoke of braziers, and a crowd moving slowly from one tavern to another: an authentic way to discover the Cilento hinterland outside the beach season.