San Martino al Cimino Chestnut and Porcini Mushroom Festival

A historic festival on the slopes of Monte Cimino

The Chestnut and Porcini Mushroom Festival brings the village of San Martino al Cimino to life every year during the final weekends of October. This picturesque hamlet of Viterbo is nestled in the woods of the Cimini Mountains, in the heart of the Tuscia region, Lazio. Organized by the Pro Loco of San Martino al Cimino, the event reached its 37th edition for the chestnut celebration in 2025, joined a few years ago by the younger festival dedicated to the porcini mushroom: a dual tribute to the two products that have defined autumn on these hills for centuries.

The village of Donna Olimpia

San Martino al Cimino is one of the most fascinating villages in the province of Viterbo. Dominated by the imposing Cistercian abbey of San Martino, it owes its 17th-century urban layout to Donna Olimpia Maidalchini Pamphilj, the powerful sister-in-law of Pope Innocent X, who made it the center of her principality. During the festival, the village tells its story through guided tours of the abbey and a costume re-enactment dedicated to Donna Olimpia, featuring a historical pageant with flag-wavers and musicians parading through the streets.

Chestnuts, marroni, and porcini: the stars of the show

The elevated position of San Martino al Cimino on the slopes of Monte Cimino produces particularly high-quality chestnuts and marroni, while the surrounding woods have always been prime territory for porcini mushrooms. During the festival, braziers lit in the squares roast chestnuts to be enjoyed with mulled wine, while the Pro Loco food stand offers themed menus featuring polenta, mushrooms, and chestnuts. In Piazza Mariano Burratti, the "Il Fritto delle mamme" stand rounds out the selection with fried specialties, and local restaurants participate with set menus that reinterpret the festival's two signature products.

Shows, folklore, and entertainment

Alongside the gastronomy, the festival program is packed with folkloric and cultural initiatives: falconry demonstrations, archery and crossbow exhibitions, stilt walkers, fire-eaters, Roman folk singers, traditional games, and card tournaments. There are also moments for deeper reflection, such as conferences dedicated to chestnut groves and climate change, organized with the contribution of the academic world.

A festival for families

The festival pays special attention to children, with an amusement park, a horse carousel, traditional wooden games, pottery workshops, storytelling sessions, and puppet shows. Markets featuring local products and handicrafts accompany visitors along the entire festival route, from morning until evening.

A highly anticipated event in the Tuscia region

Supported by the Municipality of Viterbo and deeply cherished by the local community, the Chestnut and Porcini Mushroom Festival is now one of the most anticipated autumn events in the Viterbo Tuscia: two weekends where gastronomy, history, and popular tradition intertwine in one of the most beautiful villages in Lazio.