The woods around Lake Maggiore provide the perfect habitat for this seasonal treat. In Arona, every weekend in October, local associations took turns running chestnut stands
Autumn means chestnuts. The aroma of roasted chestnuts — in Italian caldarroste — fills the autumn air, a hallmark of the season alongside golden leaves and the mist that lingers over the lake in the early morning and at dusk. And Lake Maggiore is no exception. Along the lakeside villages and promenades, stalls line the streets, offering delicious local flavours — perhaps to savour during a leisurely stroll by the water at sunset. And there’s no shortage of chestnut festivals, offering the perfect chance to spend a few pleasant hours in good company. One of the most popular festivals was the one held in Arona, at the stand set up in Largo Vidale. Here, every weekend in October, local community associations took turns preparing chestnuts and welcoming both residents and visitors. A series of events that began with the Alpini Group, continuing with the AIB and Civil Protection of Arona-Montrigiasco Group, then the National Free Hunting Association, and concluding with the Abele Group of Montrigiasco.
The chestnut trees themselves thrive in the Lake Maggiore area, an extraordinary natural habitat for the species. They grow abundantly on the hillsides in many of the forests of the Verbano and Varese valleys. During times of war, chestnuts were an essential food source for local rural communities, and in fact the chestnut tree became known as “the bread tree.” These days, chestnuts are not just a culinary delight, but an invitation to stroll through the woods in search of the spiny-husked “treasures” that make autumn evenings with friends and family so warm and comforting.
