Roscetta Chestnut Festival

A festival dedicated to the autumn queen of Valle Roveto

Every year, in the second half of October, the small hamlet of Grancia, in the municipality of Morino (L'Aquila province, Abruzzo), comes alive for the Roscetta Chestnut Festival. Now in its 27th edition in 2025, the event celebrates the Valle Roveto roscetta, an indigenous chestnut variety with a glossy skin and a sweet, delicate flavor, considered a true symbol of the gastronomic identity of this corner of Abruzzo.

The streets of the hamlet and the central Piazza Sant'Antonio fill with food and wine stalls, local product stands, and craft exhibitions, while the aroma of roasted chestnuts follows visitors along the entire route. The event takes place at the entrance to the Zompo lo Schioppo Regional Nature Reserve, one of the most evocative natural landscapes in the province of L'Aquila, home to the highest natural waterfall in the Apennines.

Between flavor, nature, and hiking

The festival is not just about tasting: it is also an opportunity to discover the Valle Roveto area. The program includes hiking and e-bike excursions through the chestnut woods and along the reserve's trails, led by expert guides. The walks lead to the discovery of hidden corners, the mountain refuge, and the itineraries that connect Grancia to the ancient villages of the valley.

• Food and wine stalls featuring chestnut-based dishes and typical Abruzzo products
• Craft exhibitions and local product markets
• Guided hiking and e-bike excursions in the Zompo lo Schioppo Reserve
• Live music until evening
• Traditional games, recreational and educational workshops at the Ecomuseum

An event that empowers the community

The Roscetta Chestnut Festival is much more than a food festival: it is a moment of cohesion for the entire Morino community. In recent years, the event has also hosted the awarding of scholarships to deserving students of the municipality and the inauguration of new facilities for visitors and hikers, testifying to a festival that looks to the future without forgetting its rural roots.

Organized by the Council of Associations of the Municipality of Morino, the Municipality of Morino, and the Zompo lo Schioppo Nature Reserve, the festival represents one of the most anticipated autumn events in Valle Roveto, attracting visitors from across the Marsica region and neighboring provinces.