Autumn is the time of chestnuts This is where to organize trips for harvested between October and November, from Lombardy to Sicily.
There are those who live the year as a constant wait for the next big event. From those that focus on holidays, from carnival to summer holidays, including Halloween and Christmas, to those that, instead, focus on the seasonality of certain foods.
From this aspect theautunno It offers an endless number of tasty dishes, mixed with an atmosphere typical of the passing of the seasons. Autumn is placid, escaping the violence of winter and, at the same time, the oppressive heat of summer.
Its colors are warm, neither bright nor dull but mature. A thousand nuances and smells overwhelm us and, like every year, the chestnut hunting. It is the seasonal fruit par excellence, highly sought after throughout Italy, with often excessively high prices. However, it is not autumn without chestnuts and, although you have to contain your gluttony a little, resisting 100% is impossible.
Then there is a substantial difference in consumers, between those who buy them and those who, getting their hands dirty, organize excursions to the forest to fill their bags with these delicacies. The months of October and November are ideal, and here you have the The best places to try your luck in hunting.:
- Lombardy: one of the best areas is undoubtedly Varese, with the Campo dei Fiori Regional Park, which represents a real meeting place for passionate "hunters". There are many roads full of chestnut trees. Also recommended is the Brinzio forest, which offers a trail that climbs Monte Martica. In Alta Brianza, on the other hand, we recommend the Montevecchia and Valle del Curone park, with 11 trails available.
- Piedmont: go to Cuneo It is a must-see for any chestnut fan, considering what chestnuts are like in the Cuneo area. IGP brand. Celebrated in November for the Chestnut Festival. Alternative areas are those in the province of Asti, in particular Nizza Monferrato, San Damiano d'Asti and Val di Susa.
- Tuscany: delicious Castañas de Mugello PGI, with the Tuscany Region website offering different itineraries for the collection. In general, Grosseto and Siena are recommended, with special attention to the areas on the slopes of Mount Amiata.
- Veneto: arrived in the province of treviso, You can pick the famous Monfenera chestnuts. Those from San Zeno, on the other hand, will have to travel to the shore of Lake Garda.
- Trentino-Alto Adigio: the heart of Valle de Cembra It offers numerous trails full of chestnut trees, especially on the slopes of Monte del Calisio.
- Friuli Venezia Giulia: a Castelmonte It will be possible to identify the most famous trails by going to the Natisone valley, as well as near Caneva and Budoia.
- Emilia Romagna: here exists the Chestnut Trail, from Montombraro to Monzone, passing through Fellicarolo, Fontanaluccia and Magrignana.
- Abruzzo, Marches e Lazio: We recommend the Gran Sasso National Park and the Monti della Laga. In Lazio you can go to the Viterbo area and the forests of the Lepini mountains.
- Campania: There are several areas rich in chestnuts, let's go Matese Mountains in the surroundings of Benevento. In the province of Avellino we recommend the Regional Park, while in the Caserta area the town of Roccamonfina, with PGI chestnuts. In Cilento, however, in the heart of Val Calore, you can go to Roccadaspile.
- Molise: The best known area is San Massimo, in the province of Campobasso.
- Calabria e basilicata: There are many recommended woods in Sila National Park. Places in Basilicata are Melfi, Rapolla and Barile, excellent for tasty trips.
- Sicilia e Sardinia: Madonie and Etna Park, here are the areas to prefer in Sicily. However, in Sardinia the Park Gennargentu y Barbagia.
