Vallerano PDO Chestnut Festival

Four weekends dedicated to the chestnut

The Vallerano PDO Chestnut Festival is one of the most anticipated autumn events in the Viterbo Tuscia region. For four consecutive weekends, between mid-October and early November, the medieval village of Vallerano celebrates its iconic fruit: the Vallerano PDO Chestnut, which has been listed in the European register of Protected Designation of Origin products since 2009. The alleys and squares of the historic center—Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza del Casalino, and Piazza dell'Oratorio—come alive with roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, craft markets, performances, and historical pageants, creating a rural-themed atmosphere that involves the entire community.

The Vallerano PDO Chestnut

The local chestnut, derived from the Castanea sativa ecotype grown exclusively within the Vallerano municipal territory, received PDO recognition from the European Union in 2009. It is distinguished by its white, crunchy flesh, sweet flavor, and excellent cooking resistance. During the festival, it is enjoyed in every form: steaming roasted chestnuts in the square, desserts made with chestnut flour, traditional dishes served in the cellars, and guided tastings.

Cellars carved into the tufa

The gastronomic heart of the event lies in the ancient cellars hand-carved into the tufa rock, opened exclusively for the occasion and managed by local associations. The four historic cellars—San Vittore, Le Botti, Amici della Castagna, and La Stoppa—offer lunches and dinners with menus based on local products, available by phone or WhatsApp reservation. Dining in these evocative settings, surrounded by barrels and tufa walls, is one of the festival's most characteristic experiences.

A rich program: music, pageants, and workshops

Each weekend offers a packed calendar of events: historical pageants with flag-wavers, folk and country music concerts, traditional songs, folk games, grape treading, and a Sunday country-style breakfast. There are also educational workshops for adults and children—pottery, traditional flower festivals (infiorate), handmade paper, Vallerano-style cooking—as well as guided solar observations, vintage car and tractor rallies, art exhibitions like the "60 per Arte" collective, and guided hikes through ancient chestnut groves organized in collaboration with the Kalipè association.

Vallerano, a village of the Tuscia

Vallerano is a medieval village in the province of Viterbo, in northern Lazio, about 18 kilometers from the provincial capital. Its tufa houses, ancient walls, and the 17th-century Sanctuary of Maria Santissima del Ruscello provide the backdrop for the festival, which is also an opportunity to discover the village and its chestnut groves. The Municipality of Vallerano has entrusted the organization of the event to a network of local associations—Pro Loco, Notte delle Candele, Kalipè, and Ravviva—in collaboration with the Amici della Castagna, ensuring an authentic festival deeply rooted in the community.