Sagra della Castagna e dei Prodotti del Sottobosco

The scent of a Lucanian autumn

When October paints the woods of the Lucanian Apennines red and gold, Calvello, in the Province of Potenza, celebrates the season's symbolic fruit with the Sagra della Castagna e dei Prodotti del Sottobosco (Chestnut and Forest Products Festival), which in 2025 reaches its 25th edition. The event, organized by the Pro Loco Calvello, is the heart of the "Autunno a Calvello" (Autumn in Calvello) festival, which enlivens the village throughout all the weekends of the month and the first few days of November.

Chestnuts, mushrooms, and forest flavors

Along the streets of the historic center, you'll find food stalls offering chestnuts, mushrooms, truffles, local cheeses, and cured meats, as well as a characteristic itinerant menu with tasting stops throughout the town. Among the Lucanian specialties are "scamorza alle castagne" (chestnuts-glazed scamorza cheese) and handmade pasta with mushrooms and truffles.

In the communal chestnut grove

One of the most beloved experiences is the visit to the communal chestnut grove, about 5 km from the center: 55 hectares of panoramic woodland accessible by shuttle bus, where you can enjoy free chestnut picking surrounded by nature.

The village of ceramics

The festival is also an opportunity to discover Calvello, an ancient village of the faenzari (potters), master ceramists who work clay with typical green and yellow decorations. With guided tours of the Castle, the Multimedia Museum of Ceramics, the convents, and the ancient bridge, live music, children's entertainment, and fireworks, the Calvello autumn combines taste, nature, and culture in an authentic Lucanian experience.