Presented in October 2019, the eighteenth edition of the Chestnut Festival of Vallerano ran across four weekends from October 5 to November 3, celebrating the Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) chestnut of the Tuscia viterbese region in Lazio. Organized by the Association Friends of Chestnut and the Vallerano Pro Loco, the festival offered a diverse programme of excursions, tastings, guided visits, and performances open to all visitors.
Programme and Attractions
The festival featured roasted chestnuts and red wine served in the town square, guided tours of the medieval borough, churches, hermitages, and caves, and historical processions with flag-bearers and musicians. Craft markets and stalls sold local typical products. Evening meals and lunches took place in characteristic tufa cellars, which opened exceptionally for the occasion. Chestnut recipes were showcased in various dishes, including soups with beans and chickpeas, gnocchi, polenta, stews with mushrooms, and preparations paired with liqueurs, pies, jams, and pastries. A recipe book was offered free at the Friends of Chestnut stand.
Cultural and Educational Events
The programme included the presentation of Mauro Messina’s autobiography, Stories of an Ordinary Boy with Special Needs: Living with Disability in the Family, which tells the story of his son with Down syndrome. A dedicated day featured special routes for families with members with disabilities to discover the sounds, colours, and flavours of the territory. Additional events included traditional folk singing, wickerbasket-weaving workshops, bird-of-prey exhibitions, music and dancing in Piazza della Repubblica, and historical conferences on the town’s 18th-century history and local dialect. Social initiatives on mental health awareness, disability inclusion, cardio-protection training, and breast cancer prevention were organized by partner associations throughout the festival period.
The Chestnut DOP Designation
Vallerano’s chestnut received Protected Designation of Origin status from the European Union on April 7, 2009, becoming the first and only chestnut DOP in Italy at that time. The fruit is distinguished by its particular lustre and versatility in both savoury and sweet preparations.
Frequently asked questions
What was the date range of the 2019 festival?
The festival ran from October 5 to November 3, 2019, across four weekends.
When did Vallerano’s chestnut receive DOP status?
The chestnut of Vallerano received Protected Designation of Origin certification from the European Union on April 7, 2009, making it the first and only chestnut DOP in Italy at that time.
Where were traditional meals served during the festival?
Lunches and dinners were held in characteristic tufa cellars that opened specifically for the festival occasion, offering local typical dishes.