Sagra della Castagna e dei Marroni di Chiusani

The chestnut festival in Oltrepò Pavese

The Sagra della Castagna e dei Marroni takes place every autumn in the hamlet of Chiusani, a small part of the Municipality of Rocca Susella, in the hills of Oltrepò Pavese in the province of Pavia. It is one of the longest-running sagre in the area, now in its thirtieth edition, and celebrates the fruit that for centuries has sustained the economy of these mountain villages: the chestnut and the prized marrone (a type of large, sweet chestnut).

Chestnuts, Marroni, and Peasant Cuisine

The heart of the day is the chestnuts and marroni from Chiusani, displayed and sold at a market, and the peasant lunch that brings visitors and locals together around traditional flavours. Stalls of typical Oltrepò products offer cured meats, cheeses, honey, wines, and local specialities, while the air fills with the aroma of roasted chestnuts. The atmosphere is that of the genuine and folkloric Apennine village festivals, where the community comes together at the end of the season.

The Cammino della Castagna

A distinctive element of the sagra is the Cammino della Castagna, a guided excursion to discover the territory of Chiusani: a naturalistic loop of about 4 km with a height difference of about a hundred metres, which crosses mixed woods, chestnut groves, and ancient marroni trees in the enchanting landscape of the Val Ardivestra. It is an opportunity to combine the gastronomic festival with the discovery of the environment that produces the star chestnut.

Between Patron Saint and Tradition

Rocca Susella, a village of just over two hundred inhabitants, celebrates its patron saints Saints Peter and Paul, but it is the autumn sagra of Chiusani that represents the main attraction for visitors, drawing in chestnut enthusiasts, hikers, and lovers of good food from Oltrepò Pavese every year.