The Gold of the Forests:
The Chestnuts of Garfagnana
Garfagnana, nestled between the Apuan Alps and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, is home to some of the oldest chestnut groves in Italy. Once a staple food for the local population, chestnuts are transformed into sweet flour for traditional dishes such as necci and polenta, as well as desserts, soups, and liqueurs. The harvest takes place in autumn, followed by drying in metati and milling in local mills. Even today, these traditional techniques are preserved and valued.
