Scala Chestnut Festival

The signature festival of the oldest village on the Amalfi Coast

The Chestnut Festival is the most cherished autumn event in the town of Scala, in the province of Salerno, Campania. Perched opposite Ravello and surrounded by the woods of the Monti Lattari, Scala is considered the oldest village on the Amalfi Coast. Here, the chestnut is not just a seasonal fruit, but a core identity that has shaped the economy, landscape, and mountain cuisine of this corner of the coast for centuries. The event traditionally takes place over the first few weeks of October, spanning two weekends, and reached its 48th edition in 2025—a milestone that places it among the historic festivals of Campania.

Marroni di Scala, the absolute stars

The gastronomic heart of the festival is the Marroni di Scala, large chestnuts harvested from the groves surrounding the village. In the wooden kiosks set up in Piazza Municipio and throughout the historic center, the fruit is served in every imaginable way, from the simplest to the most elaborate, often prepared by local women using family recipes.

• Roasted chestnuts cooked over an open fire
• Gnocchi and pasta made with chestnut flour, served with local sauces
• Castagnaccio and desserts with chestnut cream
• Artisan tarts and jams
• Other local Scala specialties, alongside products from the Amalfi hinterland

The Palio delle Contrade and the donkey race

The most spectacular part of the event is the Palio delle Contrade, a tournament that pits the youth of Scala's six districts against each other: Scala Centro, Campidoglio, Minuta, San Pietro, Santa Caterina, and Pontone. Teams compete in a series of ancient traditional games passed down through generations, such as the trocchiello, the strummolo (wooden spinning top), tug-of-war, and sack races. The highlight is the donkey race, with jockeys riding bareback through the narrow streets of the center: it is the public's favorite event and attracts thousands of spectators every year.

Folk music, shows, and activities for children

Evenings are accompanied by concerts and performances of Campanian folk music, including tarantella, pizzica, and Neapolitan songs, which enliven Piazza Municipio until late at night. Sunday mornings are dedicated to families, with workshops, games, and autumn-themed creative activities designed for children; some editions have also featured educational workshops in the chestnut groves to help little ones discover harvesting techniques and the rural life of the village. Guided tours of the historic center's monuments and walks in the surrounding area are also available.

Scala, a village to discover between Ravello and the Valle delle Ferriere

The festival is also the best opportunity to visit a town that remains off the beaten path of the coast's major tourist flows. The Duomo di San Lorenzo, the churches of the hamlets, the ruins of the Basilica of Sant'Eustachio, and the trails that descend toward the Valle delle Ferriere or climb up toward the Monti Lattari make Scala an ideal base for combining gastronomy and hiking. Ravello and Amalfi can be reached in a few minutes, but it is in the silence of Scala's alleys that you can breathe the authenticity of the truest, rural, and mountainous Amalfi Coast.

Who organizes the festival

The event is promoted by the Municipality of Scala together with the "Scala, la Città del Castagno" association and local organizations, including Anspi Gerardo Sasso, with the direct involvement of the districts. In the 2025 edition, the festival was included in the cultural project "The Magic of Elements. Itineraries through light, water, and local craftsmanship," supported by the Campania Region to promote authentic Amalfi Coast experiences year-round.