Festa dei Maruni di Alvese

The chestnut festival in Alvese

The Festa dei Maruni is the major autumn sagra (traditional festival) of the hamlet of Alvese, in Nogarole Vicentino, a municipality in the province of Vicenza nestled among the hills of Lessinia and the Chiampo valley. Now in its fortieth edition, it is dedicated to 'maruni brustolà', roasted chestnuts, which give the festival its name and evoke the flavours and warmth of the first cold evenings of the year.

Autumn flavours and Cimbrian tradition

Alongside maruni and chestnut cakes, the food stall offers local specialties: fioretta gnocchi — made with milk from the first cheese processing — and potato gnocchi with cimbro sauce, recalling the ancient Cimbrian culture of these mountains. There is also grilled meat with polenta, tripe, and simple dishes of the Venetian tradition, served under a large covered marquee that ensures the festival can go ahead even in bad weather.

Market, excursions, and community

The Festa dei Maruni is not just about food: the programme includes an artisan market, excursions and walks to discover the hilly territory, exhibitions, tastings of typical products, and entertainment evenings. Organised by the Gruppo Alvese Onlus, the event is a deeply felt occasion that celebrates the autumn tradition and Venetian culture of this corner of the Vicenza region.