Pescorocchiano Chestnut Festival

A festival that tells the story of Cicolano

The Pescorocchiano Chestnut Festival is the most anticipated autumn event in the Cicolano, the mountainous south-eastern area of the Province of Rieti, in the Lazio region. For over forty years, the Municipality of Pescorocchiano has dedicated a weekend to the chestnut harvest, a fruit that here has never been just an agricultural product, but a true pillar of the mountain economy that sustained the families of the Salto Valley for centuries.

The event, which reached its thirty-fifth edition back in 2018, has gradually evolved from a local village feast into a regional attraction, while maintaining its authentic popular spirit and management by the Municipality alongside local associations and producers.

The Castagna Rossa del Cicolano

The undisputed star is the Castagna Rossa del Cicolano, a typical variety that grows along the Salto and Turano valleys and is recognized as a Traditional Agri-food Product of the Lazio Region. Smaller than the Antrodoco chestnuts, it is distinguished by its sweet, delicate flavor and the reddish-hued skin that gives it its name. During the festival, you can buy them directly from local growers and taste them in various preparations, from simple roasted chestnuts to desserts.

The gastronomic route in the Castello del Peschio

The heart of the festival is the Castello del Peschio, the oldest historic core of Pescorocchiano, where a tasting route is set up to guide visitors from alley to alley. In addition to roasted chestnuts, you will find traditional dishes from the Rieti countryside:

• Pizza Rentorta, the typical rolled rustic pizza of the Cicolano
• Fried Pizzilli, small leavened dough fritters
• Sagne, handmade pasta served with simple local sauces
• Cured meats, cheeses, and wines from producers in Pescorocchiano and the province of Rieti

Music, markets, and excursions

Alongside the food, the program usually includes craft markets along the village streets, live music, and evening shows, as well as guided hikes through the ancient chestnut groves surrounding the town: a perfect opportunity to discover the autumn foliage of the Salto Valley and the trails connecting Pescorocchiano to the Cammino Naturale dei Parchi.

There is no shortage of activities for families and children, with workshops and entertainment. In recent years, the festival has also expanded to include an Halloween evening with the "Halloween in castagna" event, which precedes the main festival when the calendar allows.

Why it's worth the trip

Pescorocchiano is an Apennine village of a few thousand inhabitants, surrounded by woods and a dozen scattered hamlets. During the festival, the town fills with visitors from Rieti, neighboring Abruzzo, and Rome, who reach the Cicolano in just over an hour and a half. Those who arrive with time to spare can combine their visit with the nearby Grotte di Val de' Varri, one of the most interesting karst complexes in the Rieti area, and the villages of the Salto Valley.

It is one of those festivals where the tourist appeal has not overshadowed the community spirit: you eat sitting in courtyards, chat with those who actually harvest the chestnuts, and the scent of roasted chestnuts stays with you long after you leave.