Mantovana – Chestnut Festival

The Mantovana Chestnut Festival, an autumn celebration in Monferrato

Some festivals do not need grand stages or packed schedules to warm the heart: the Mantovana Chestnut Festival is one of them. In the small village of Mantovana, one of the three hamlets of the municipality of Predosa, in the province of Alessandria, the arrival of autumn is celebrated in the simplest and most authentic way, around the steaming brazier of roasted chestnuts.

An afternoon of community

Organized by the Pro Loco Mantovana, the chestnut festival is an event designed for those who love the slow pace of village life: people meet in the late afternoon, when the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, to share the aroma of roasted chestnuts fresh from the fire. It is one of those occasions where the entire village comes together, from the youngest to the oldest, in an informal and welcoming atmosphere.

Chestnuts, the queen of the season

The chestnut has always been one of the symbols of the Piedmontese autumn and its rural traditions. Once a precious food for country families, today it is the star of many local festivals that, like the Mantovana chestnut festival, celebrate its unmistakable taste. Roasted chestnuts, toasted over the fire and served hot, are the common thread of an afternoon dedicated to conviviality.

Mantovana and Predosa, between the Orba and Monferrato

The village of Mantovana is part of the municipality of Predosa, a town of just over two thousand inhabitants nestled in the Upper Monferrato, south of Alessandria, in the area crossed by the Orba stream. It is a land of hills, vineyards, and food and wine traditions, where the Pro Loco associations passionately guard the festivals that mark the year: from the famous Mixed Boiled Meat Festival in summer to the autumn chestnut festival. Participating in these events means discovering the most authentic Piedmont, that of small towns and their hospitality.

A festival for everyone

• Roasted chestnuts prepared by Pro Loco volunteers
• Free admission and informal atmosphere
• An opportunity to discover the village of Mantovana and the Predosa area
• Suitable for families, children, and those looking for an authentic taste of Piedmontese autumn traditions