Roscetta Chestnut Festival

The Roscetta Chestnut Festival in Canistro

The Roscetta Chestnut Festival is the annual autumn highlight that brings Canistro Inferiore to life, specifically in the Santa Croce district, in the province of L'Aquila. Organized by the Pro Loco of Canistro APS in collaboration with the municipal administration, it is the oldest event in the Valle Roveto: it has been held continuously since 1978 and stands as one of the most deep-rooted food and wine celebrations in inland Abruzzo.

The Roscetta, queen of the Canistro autumn

The undisputed star is the Roscetta chestnut, a prized variety with a reddish skin and a sweet flavor that grows in the chestnut groves surrounding the village. The festival was created specifically to promote this fruit and the deep bond between the territory, its forests, and the famous Santa Croce mineral water, which springs in Canistro and has made the town known far beyond regional borders. During the weekend, the streets of the historic center fill with enticing aromas: roasted chestnuts, traditional desserts, and typical Abruzzese dishes prepared with the Roscetta.

A program of taste, culture, and nature

The event offers a rich and varied program that goes beyond simple tastings. Along the village streets, you will find dozens of food, wine, and craft stalls, while the atmosphere is enlivened by street artists, marching bands, stilt walkers, and live music. Significant space is dedicated to culture and local knowledge:

• Conferences on chestnut cultivation, featuring experts discussing the traditions and future of the Abruzzese chestnut
• Painting competition, a historic event held in memory of Pierino De Michele
• Hiking and trekking in the chestnut woods, often led by the CAI and local experts
• Traditional games and culinary contests involving both adults and children

A festival that unites the community

The Roscetta Chestnut Festival is much more than a food event: it is a moment of identity for the entire community of Canistro and the Valle Roveto. Every year, it attracts thousands of visitors from across Abruzzo and neighboring regions, so much so that in the past, special tourist trains operated by TUA were organized from Pescara to make reaching the event easy. In the heart of the Abruzzo Region, set against a mountain landscape painted in autumn colors, the festival offers the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic village, its flavors, and its traditions.