Crastatone – Piancastagnaio (Siena)

October 31-November 5, 2023. Roasted chestnuts and delicious chestnut recipes

From October 31st to November 5th 2023, the medieval village Piancastagnaio (in the Province of Siena) celebrates the end of the chestnut harvest season and the arrival of Winter with Crastatone, a festival full of events

Crastatone  now in its 56th edition, is one of the oldest and most important chestnut festivals in the Monte Amiata area.

Visitors can enjoy art exhibitions, buy presents in the art & craft fairs or taste local delicacies in the restaurants of Piancastagnaio.

A truly magical atmosphere. Poet Eugenio Montale once described Piancastagnaio with the following words, “…shrouded by spirals of mist that from the valley climb up to the top of Mount Amiata… carrying a band of elves and the scent of fresh mushrooms… mixed with the smell of the chestnuts exploding in the fireplace…”

Chestnut, the only food source available to the inhabitants of Mount Amiata until the end of World War II, is the star of the festival: crastate (roasted chestnuts), brodolose (boiled chestnuts with fennel), vecchierelle (dried chestnuts), suggioli (boiled chestnuts with peel), castagnaccio (chestnut flour cake), pulenna doicce (sweet polenta).

Open wine cellars, wine and food tastings, music, dancing, folk groups, market, and exhibitions liven up the streets of the small historic center of Piancastagnaio.

The name “Crastatone” comes from the verb “crastare” (in dialect), namely the action of making a slice across the top of a chestnut before roasting it.

USEFUL INFORMATION
It is convenient to book dinner in order to eat in the taverns
Call the tourist office for any further info at +39 0577 784134
See also the Facebook page to be updated

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Photo by ReneCiampa