Chestnut Festival in Marradi.

Hello dear friends,

Today, in this post, I want to share my experience from this weekend, where for the first time, I participated in an important traditional event organized in Marradi, a municipality located in the Tuscany region, but in reality, it's right on the border with my region, Emilia Romagna.

A dear friend of mine had told me about this event that takes place every year for almost the entire month of October. It is dedicated to one of the most important products that originate here in Marradi, which is chestnuts. This is because October is the peak season for chestnut production, not only in this region but also in various parts of Italy.

Returning to Marradi, this beautiful village is located approximately 45 km northeast and has a population of about three thousand inhabitants. Like many other villages I have introduced to you here on my blog, Marradi certainly offers a slow and peaceful way of life, a more mindful form of tourism, and a much slower pace of living. Being surrounded by forests and mountains, this place offers many opportunities for hiking and beautiful outdoor activities.

As I was saying, and as you can see from the photos I've shared here, I participated in this chestnut festival called the "Festa dei Maroni." It seems to be one of the most important festivals for this fruit in all of Italy, although I'm not entirely sure about this. Nonetheless, as you can notice, there were quite a few people, making it clear from the outset that it's a highly popular event, although mostly attended by older individuals, as I saw very few young people participating.

This festival, as I mentioned, takes place on Sundays in October, and from what I've read on a Pro Loco poster, it has been held since 1958. During this event, you have the opportunity to taste dishes made from chestnuts, but the gastronomic stands also offer other products. In summary, it's an opportunity to discover the local culture and traditions and, undoubtedly, to spend a day outdoors in a festive atmosphere that certainly lifts one's spirits.

I purchased about 2 kg of chestnuts at a cost of €5 per kg, which, in my opinion, is a good and reasonable price. Certainly, many people were buying, and this is a great thing for local producers, as they can sell their products directly.

In my view, it's very nice to participate in these traditional festivals because you not only get to taste local products, which are essential for understanding a region, but you also get in touch with the local people. Interacting with them allows you to understand what they think about these traditions, and this is a bit of my own thought that I've developed.

I thank you for taking the time to read my post, and I appreciate the many comments and expressions of affection I receive every day on my posts. I wish you all a wonderful day, and see you soon!