From Turin’s historic pastry shops to Cuneo’s Chestnut Fair and the mountain villages of southern Piedmont, a four-day press tour explored the people, places and traditions behind one of the region’s most important autumn crops
October is chestnut season in Piedmont. For centuries, chestnuts were a staple food and an important source of income for families living in the region’s mountain valleys. Today, chestnut farming continues to support local producers, while traditional methods of drying and processing the harvest remain part of the area’s agricultural heritage.
These traditions were at the heart of “Piemonte, Taste the Soul of the Land,” a press tour held from October 15 to 18, 2026, in collaboration with the Piedmont Region and ATL del Cuneese, with All About Italy coordinating the participation of American journalists. The four-day program took participants from Turin to Cuneo and the surrounding Alpine valleys, offering an opportunity to meet local producers, discover historic landmarks, and experience the region’s rich culinary heritage.
From Turin to Cuneo’s Chestnut Fair
The first stop was Turin, where a guided walk through the historic center included a tasting of chocolate and traditional pastries at one of the city’s historic cafés. Dinner was served at La Badessa, a restaurant in Piazza Carlo Emanuele II whose cuisine draws on recipes once prepared in monasteries and convents.
The following morning, the group traveled to Cuneo. A visit to the historic Arione pastry shop, a favorite of Ernest Hemingway, introduced visitors to some of the city’s best-known sweets, including specialties made with chestnuts. The morning continued with a walk through the historic center and a visit to the Fiera del Marrone, Cuneo’s annual Chestnut Fair.
The 2026 Fiera Nazionale del Marrone marked its 27th edition and celebrated 90 years of history, highlighting the importance of chestnut cultivation to the region’s cultural and agricultural identity. Set to become an international event in 2027, the fair continues to bring together local producers, artisans, and visitors in a celebration of Piedmont’s autumn traditions.
The People Behind the Chestnut Harvest
In Borgo San Dalmazzo, the group visited Agrimontana, a company known for its candied fruit, marrons glacés and ingredients used by professional pastry chefs. The visit offered insight into the techniques used to select and preserve fruit for high-quality confectionery.
The next stop was Moiola, a small village in the Stura Valley, where the family-run business L’Arbol grows and processes chestnuts. Its products include fresh and dried chestnuts, chestnut flour and handmade sweets. A walk through the surrounding woods was followed by a tasting at the company’s headquarters.
The following day began among the chestnut trees of Valcasotto, before a visit to Casotto Castle in the Upper Tanaro Valley. Originally a Carthusian monastery, the complex was later converted into a royal hunting residence. Its architecture and setting offer a glimpse into the religious and royal history of this part of Piedmont.
Nearby, Beppino Occelli welcomed visitors to its cheese-aging facilities. The tasting included specialty cheeses matured in chestnut leaves, a traditional technique that connects local cheesemaking with the agricultural resources of the surrounding countryside.
The October 17 program also included a visit to Fratelli Castellino, a company founded in 1986 in the province of Cuneo. Specializing in the cultivation, processing and distribution of chestnuts, including the PGI-certified Castagna Cuneo, as well as berries, the company operates in both the Italian and international markets.
In the afternoon, the group traveled to Viola to meet Marco Bozzolo, whose agricultural business works to preserve local chestnut-growing practices. Visitors explored an educational chestnut grove and watched a demonstration of how chestnuts were traditionally dried in the region’s traditional chestnut-drying houses. Before modern preservation methods became widespread, drying allowed mountain communities to store chestnuts for use throughout the winter.
A Tradition That Continues in Piedmont’s Valleys
Food was a central part of the four-day program. In Cuneo, meals at 4 Ciance and Osteria Senza Fretta introduced participants to traditional Piedmontese cuisine, featuring seasonal ingredients and locally sourced products.
The visits revealed how chestnut cultivation remains connected to everyday life in the Cuneo valleys. Small farms supply fresh produce, specialized companies transform it into ingredients for pastry making, and local restaurants continue to use chestnuts in regional recipes.
More than a seasonal harvest, chestnuts represent a living connection between Piedmont’s past and present. From centuries-old drying houses to family-run farms and the vibrant streets of Cuneo’s Chestnut Fair, these traditions continue to shape the identity of the Alpine valleys, preserving a heritage that is as much about people and community as it is about food.
For more information: www.visitpiemonte.com
By Arianna Alessandrini for All About Italy
