Castanetum Flower Festival 2026: Italy celebrates chestnut groves in

Castanetum Flower Festival 2026: chestnut groves in bloom

From 20 June to 20 July 2026 the National Association of Chestnut Towns will hold the first Castanetum Flower Festival, a nationwide, distributed event aimed at promoting chestnut groves and mountain communities across Italy.

Supported by ANCI, UNCEM, Legambiente and Slow Food, the festival spans five weekends and combines nature, culture and local economy.

• Outdoor activities: trekking, guided walks and educational trails in chestnut woods;
• Tradition: visits to mills and metati (traditional drying structures) and insights into the chestnut life cycle;
• Food: woodland picnics, zero‑km tastings and themed menus;
• Meetings and culture: talks with producers, craft markets and musical events.

The initiative aims to position chestnut heritage as a pillar of slow tourism and as an economic resource for internal areas, and is linked to the promotion of the National Chestnut Road.

Municipalities can sign up for one or more weekends according to local flowering times; participating towns will receive a digital promotion kit and the festival will award the Castanetum Prize in three categories to recognise creativity and coordination.

A national press conference will launch the festival, followed by local presentations in participating municipalities.