Tortello, Polenta and Chestnut Festival in Ronta

The festival that closes the Mugello autumn

When the Mugello hills turn into a tapestry of autumn colors, the village of Ronta, in the municipality of Borgo San Lorenzo (Metropolitan City of Florence, Tuscany), fires up the stoves for one of its most anticipated events: the Tortello, Polenta and Chestnut Festival. Spread over two weekends in October, it is traditionally the last major festival on the local calendar, marking the end of the village fair season before winter arrives.

The flavors of the Mugello autumn

The menu is a compendium of Tuscan-Emilian Apennine mountain cuisine, built around three protagonists that give the festival its name:

• Mugello potato tortelli, handmade and served with meat sauce, butter and sage, or porcini mushroom sauce (also available in a gluten-free version);
• Polenta, served both traditional and fried, accompanied by mushrooms or a savory wild boar sauce;
• Chestnuts from the Mugello woods, served as roasted chestnuts, the true symbol of the Apennine autumn.

The table is completed by tagliolini, various meats, and grilled specialties in true Tuscan style, paired with local wines.

A village festival at the sports field

The festival takes place at the Ronta sports field, along Viale Fratelli Rosselli, in spacious areas suitable for families and groups. The kitchen opens in the evening for dinner, while lunch is also served on Sundays. Everything is managed by local volunteers, creating an honest and familiar atmosphere that has made this event a meeting point for the entire Borgo San Lorenzo community and the many visitors coming up to Mugello from Florence for years.

Chestnuts and tortelli, the identity of the territory

Potato tortelli and chestnuts tell the story of the peasant soul of this part of Tuscany: the former, born as a humble dish capable of feeding people with few ingredients, is today a true gastronomic flag of Mugello; the latter, gathered in the Apennine chestnut groves, were a precious food source for mountain families for centuries. Bringing them together in a single end-of-season festival means celebrating the harvest season and the authentic flavors of the Province of Florence, far from the most beaten tourist paths.