It is not Autumn without chestnuts
The 7 best festivals in Tuscany to discover chestnuts between October and November, touring ancient villages immersed in the Appennino woods
The fall of 2018 celebrates the great return of Italian chestnuts. In recent years the chestnuts had risked disappearing due to a killer insect that is finally defeated after ten years, and now they return with a crop of over 30 million pounds, up 80% compared to five years ago.
And in terms of chestnuts, Tuscany is at the top of the classifications of Made in Italy production. Of ancient origins that refer to Turkey and the Middle East, the chestnut tree spread in most of Europe following the expansion of the Roman Empire. In the Tuscan landscape, chestnut wood is perhaps the most typical and representative forest.
MARRONI AND CHESTNUTS, THE DIFFERENCE
Take a roast chestnut and marron glacé, watch them carefully, carefully analyze the flavor. This is how the journey begins to discover the difference between chestnuts and chestnuts.
Chestnuts and chestnuts can basically define them cousins. Chestnuts (“Castagne” in Italy) are the fruit of the wild plant, they are smaller and flattened. The peel is resistant and dark brown. They are eaten boiled or roasted, or if they get a sweet and nutritious flour.
When the man decided to put his hand and move from spontaneous collection to scientific cultivation, the chestnut trees underwent a real restyling, including pruning and grafting. This is how high quality cultivars were born and from these the Marroni. Having had an easier life, they are a little bigger, the peel of a brown streaks a lighter, the rounded shape, which reminds a bit of that of a heart.
WHERE TO GO: 7 TOP SAGERS IN TUSCANY
The Sagra del Marrone and Frutti del Sottobosco in Palazzuolo sul Senio (FI), every Sunday in October.
The Chestnut Festival and Marron Buono di Marradi (FI), every Sunday in October.
The Autumn Festival in Abbadia San Salvatore (SI), as always the party will take place during the second and third weekend of October, so the first weekend will be that of 11-12-13 October and the second will be that of 18 -19-20 October.
16th Festival of Castanicoltura in Cutigliano (PT), 27 October.
The Chestnut Festival in Arcidosso (GR), from 18 to 20 and from 25 to 27 October.
Festa del Marrone di Caprese, in Caprese Michelangelo (AR), where Buonarroti was born, third and fourth weekends of October.
Il Crastatone di Piancastagnaio (SI), the oldest event dedicated to chestnuts on Monte Amiata, from 31 October to 3 November 2019.