Soriano nel Cimino Chestnut Festival
Three weekends in October featuring the Palio delle Contrade, a historical pageant, and roasted chestnuts in the heart of the Cimini Mountains
About Chestnut Festival
One of the most famous festivals in Lazio
The Soriano nel Cimino Chestnut Festival is much more than a celebration of a fruit: it is the great historical re-enactment of the Tuscia region, capable of transforming an entire medieval village into an open-air theater for three weekends in October. In the town of Soriano nel Cimino, in the province of Viterbo, the Cimini Mountains' chestnut—for centuries a fundamental resource for local populations—becomes the pretext for a celebration that weaves together gastronomy, history, and local identity, attracting thousands of visitors from all over Lazio and beyond every year.
From the roots of 1489 to the modern festival
The event has ancient origins: it is inspired by a feast established by the Community Council at the end of the 15th century and commemorates the tragic events that occurred in Soriano on November 7, 1489, when the inhabitants repelled an attempted invasion. The modern festival was born in 1968 and has since developed along two lines: the re-enactment of the most significant events in the town's history and the tribute to the chestnut, the symbolic fruit of the Cimini Mountains. In 2026, the 59th edition will be celebrated.
The Palio delle Contrade and the Giostra degli Anelli
The competitive heart of the festival is the challenge between the four historic districts of Soriano—Papacqua, Rocca, San Giorgio, and Trinità—which vie for the palio, a painting created each year through a national competition open to Italian and international artists. The men-at-arms test their skills in the Archery Contest, while the knights bring the spectacular Giostra degli Anelli (Ring Joust) to life at Campo Giannotti. Revolving around the competition are the Convivium Secretum, an evening food and wine tour by reservation, the Popular Games, and the Alacris Civitas, with scenes of medieval life recreated in the districts.
The historical pageant: over 500 participants
The most anticipated moment of the event is the grand historical pageant, with more than 500 participants in rich medieval and Renaissance costumes parading through the streets of the center. Accompanying them are performances by swordsmen, flag-wavers, musicians, and falconers, the blessing and investiture of the archers and knights in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, and the evocative nocturnal historical re-enactment. The districts decorate streets and squares, transforming the village dominated by the Orsini Castle into an authentic village of yesteryear.
The Cimini Mountains' chestnut
Alongside history, there is taste: steaming roasted chestnuts prepared in the squares, desserts and dishes based on chestnuts, and typical Tuscia products in the taverns and markets. The Cimini Mountains' chestnut, the absolute protagonist, is also celebrated in the traditional closing with the awards ceremony and the grand final tasting.
Culture and national awards
The festival also hosts significant cultural appointments: the Vojola d'Oro National Award, now in its 45th edition, the «Fidelitas» National Historical Book Award, conferences on historical re-enactments, exhibitions at the Orsini Castle, and guided tours. A program that confirms Soriano nel Cimino, in the green heart of Lazio, as one of the Italian capitals of historical re-enactment.
Chestnut Festival — edition 2026
The 59th edition: three weekends of celebration
From October 2 to 18, 2026, the Municipality of Soriano nel Cimino, in the province of Viterbo, hosts the 59th edition of the Chestnut Festival. The provisional program published by the Festival Board organizes the event over three weekends, preceded by preparatory events in September: national conferences on historical re-enactments in the Council Chamber and the inauguration of the «Vestimenta Historiae» exhibition at the Orsini Castle.
The first weekend culminates on Sunday, October 4, with the reading of the challenge proclamation and the «Disputa de lo Palio delle Contrade» at Campo Giannotti, where Papacqua, Rocca, San Giorgio, and Trinità face off in the Giostra degli Anelli. The second weekend offers the historical re-enactment «Terre Nostre Suriani», the «Fidelitas» National Historical Book Award, the 45th edition of the Vojola d'Oro Award, and, on Sunday, October 11, the historical pageant with over 500 costumed participants. The third weekend closes with the Convivium Secretum by reservation, the Popular Games, the show «Drums and Swords, Flags and Fire», and the Alacris Civitas, before the final awards ceremony with a tasting of roasted chestnuts.
The 2026 palio will be created by the winner of the national painting competition organized by the Festival Board, open to Italian and international artists.
Programme Chestnut Festival 2026
Preparatory events (September 2026)
- September 19-20 — National conferences on historical re-enactments, Council Chamber
- September 26 — Inauguration of the «Vestimenta Historiae» exhibition at the Orsini Castle
First weekend (October 2-4)
- Friday, October 2 — 5:30 PM historical music concert; 9:30 PM «Blessing and investiture of the Archers», Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II
- Saturday, October 3 — 9:00 AM antique markets; 10:00 AM art exhibitions at Orsini Castle; 4:30 PM falconry display; 9:30 PM swordsmen and musicians show
- Sunday, October 4 — 10:00 AM young flag-wavers; 12:00 PM reading of the challenge proclamation; 3:00 PM «Disputa de lo Palio delle Contrade» with the Giostra degli Anelli, Campo Giannotti
Second weekend (October 8-11)
- Friday, October 9 — 9:30 PM Trinità flag-wavers and musicians
- Saturday, October 10 — 6:00 PM «Fidelitas» National Historical Book Award; 9:30 PM historical re-enactment «Terre Nostre Suriani»
- Sunday, October 11 — 10:30 AM 45th edition of the Vojola d'Oro National Award; 3:15 PM grand historical pageant with over 500 participants
Third weekend (October 15-18)
- Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16 — «Convivium Secretum», evening food and wine tour by reservation
- Saturday, October 17 — 3:00 PM Popular Games; 9:30 PM show «Drums and Swords, Flags and Fire»
- Sunday, October 18 — 10:00 AM-12:00 PM «Alacris Civitas», scenes of medieval life in the districts; 3:00 PM final awards and roasted chestnut tasting
Provisional program published by the Chestnut Festival Board: times and events may be subject to change.
Highlights Chestnut Festival 2026
- «Disputa de lo Palio delle Contrade» with the Giostra degli Anelli — Sunday, October 4, Campo Giannotti
- Grand historical pageant with over 500 participants in medieval and Renaissance costumes — Sunday, October 11
- Nocturnal historical re-enactment «Terre Nostre Suriani» — Saturday, October 10
- «Convivium Secretum», food and wine dinner-show by reservation — October 15 and 16
- Roasted chestnuts and typical Cimini Mountains products throughout the festival
- Vojola d'Oro National Award (45th edition) and «Fidelitas» Historical Book Award
Prices Chestnut Festival 2026
Practical information — Chestnut Festival
How to get there
Soriano nel Cimino is located in the province of Viterbo, at the foot of the Cimini Mountains. By car from Rome: A1 motorway, Attigliano exit, or the Orte–Viterbo expressway (SS675) with the exit for Soriano nel Cimino. By train: Orte or Viterbo station, then Cotral bus to Soriano nel Cimino.
Tickets
The main events (historical pageant, Palio delle Contrade, re-enactments, and evening shows) require tickets: available online and at the «Welcome to Soriano» tourist office in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, with a maximum of 6 tickets per person per event. Access to the village, the decorated streets, and the roasted chestnuts is free.
Tips
During the festival weekends, the town is very busy: it is advisable to arrive in the morning, book the Convivium Secretum in advance, and wear comfortable shoes for the uphill streets of the historic center.
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Where does it take place — Chestnut Festival
Centro storico di Soriano nel Cimino
Via della Rocca, 5/7, 01038 Soriano nel Cimino