Marrone Chestnut Festival

An autumn festival in the Prenestini Mountains

The Marrone Chestnut Festival in Rocca di Cave is one of the most beloved autumn events in the Prenestini Mountains, located in the Metropolitan City of Rome, in the Lazio region. For nearly half a century, this small village—home to just over three hundred residents at an altitude of over 900 meters—has welcomed thousands of visitors on the first weekend of November to discover the marrone roccheggiano, a prized chestnut variety grown on the wooded slopes surrounding the town.

The 47th edition took place on November 1st and 2nd, 2025, upholding a long-standing tradition: the event is organized by the Pro Loco Rocca di Cave APS with the patronage of the Municipality of Rocca di Cave and the Lazio Region.

The marrone roccheggiano and local cuisine

The absolute star is the chestnut, served in its simplest and most anticipated form: the roasted chestnut, prepared in large perforated pans along the streets of the historic center. Alongside the chestnuts, food stalls offer the best of traditional Prenestini peasant cuisine.

• Roasted chestnuts and boiled chestnuts
• Chestnut jam and preserves, cakes, and baked goods
• Polenta with sauce and mutton, prepared according to local pastoral traditions
• Pecorino and cheeses from local dairies
• Wines from the Castelli Romani and the Prenestini hills

Music, folklore, and street performers

The festival is about more than just food. Throughout the weekend, the village comes alive with roving folk music, costumed folk groups, flag-wavers, and street performers wandering through the alleys and small squares. There are also plenty of attractions and workshops for children, making the event perfect for families.

A village of fossils and stars

What truly sets the Marrone Chestnut Festival apart is its setting. Rocca di Cave is home to two rare treasures that can be visited during the festival:

• The Geopaleontological Museum housed in Castello Colonna, featuring the famous Cretaceous fossil reef: corals and rudists that bear witness to a tropical sea from about one hundred million years ago
• The Astronomical Observatory and planetarium, which offers sky projections and observations during the festival—an unusual blend of gastronomy and scientific outreach

The program is rounded out by guided hikes along the trails of the chestnut groves and the Prenestini ridges, offering panoramic views that, on clear days, stretch all the way to the sea.

Why it's worth the trip

Located just over fifty kilometers from Rome, the Marrone Chestnut Festival offers the increasingly rare experience of an untamed village celebration: locally grown produce, Pro Loco volunteers in the kitchen, and a medieval village filled with the scent of roasting chestnuts and music. It is the best way to discover the Prenestini Mountains at their most beautiful, when the chestnut groves turn copper and the air turns crisp.