Monte Faito PGI Chestnut Festival

An autumn festival in the chestnut groves of the Monti Lattari

The Monte Faito PGI Chestnut Festival takes place in Pimonte, a small town in the Metropolitan City of Naples overlooking the Monti Lattari ridge in Campania. Held on Sundays in October, the event transforms the chestnut groves and the grounds of the Agriturismo La Quiete into a large open-air workshop dedicated to the fruit that has defined the economy and cuisine of this mountain region for centuries, just a stone's throw from the Gulf of Naples and the Sorrento Peninsula.

The Monte Faito chestnut on its way to PGI status

The heart of the event is the Monte Faito chestnut, a product currently undergoing the recognition process for Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status. The candidacy, launched by Pimonte with the support of the Monti Lattari Foundation, the Monti Lattari Regional Park, and the Campania Region, aims to protect a historic supply chain and transform it into a lever for economic, cultural, and tourism development for the entire territory. The festival also serves to share this journey with visitors: understanding why a chestnut can become a recognized quality brand is an integral part of the experience.

What to do during the day

• Chestnut picking in the groves, alongside those who work these woods all year round
• Tasting menu featuring local products and chestnut-based dishes
• Guided hikes in the woods leading up to Monte Faito
• Pumpkin patch, where children can choose and carve their own pumpkins
• Archery and outdoor games
• Entertainment for children provided by the Giovanni Paolo II Association

The format is an all-day event, from morning until late afternoon: arrive with the family, move from the woods to the table, and head home with your own harvest.

A community project: La Dispensa dei Monti Lattari

Since 2025, the festival has been part of the La Dispensa dei Monti Lattari calendar, a project connecting eight municipalities—Gragnano, Casola di Napoli, Castellammare di Stabia, Lettere, Pimonte, Sant'Antonio Abate, Santa Maria la Carità, and Vico Equense—to promote the food, wine, landscape, and cultural excellence of the area, with the support of the Monti Lattari Foundation and the Campania Region. The stated goal is not only to celebrate a product but to strengthen community ties and promote the local supply chain through experiential tourism.

From the 'Sentieri del Gusto' Sundays to the Chestnut Festival

The event has its roots in the autumn Sundays that the Pro Loco and the municipal administration of Pimonte have dedicated to the Faito chestnut since 2023, featuring zero-mile markets, enchanted trails, children's theater performances, tastings prepared by volunteers, and archery with the Arcieri del Faito. In 2024, the 'I Sentieri del Gusto' festival, now in its third edition and entirely dedicated to the chestnut, hosted the conference at Agriturismo La Quiete that officially launched the challenge for the PGI label, in the presence of the Municipality, the Monti Lattari Park, Slow Food Penisola Sorrentina-Capri, and Coldiretti Napoli. In 2025, the event adopted its current name.

Pimonte, the green gateway to the Monti Lattari

At just over 400 meters above sea level, Pimonte is a natural balcony between the plain of Castellammare di Stabia and the Sorrento Peninsula. Chestnut woods, olive groves, and trails climbing up to Faito make it an ideal destination for those seeking a slow-paced alternative to the more crowded coastal towns. The festival is designed for families, nature lovers, hikers, and those curious about Campanian gastronomy: a simple way to discover the authentic heritage of the Monti Lattari in the space of a single day.