Marrone Chestnut of Castel del Rio PGI
On the slope of Vena del Gesso facing north, in particular between Borgo Rivola and Tossignano and in the area of Campiuno, there are vast and ancient chestnut groves guaranteeing the production of top-quality marroni chestnuts, certified by the label "Marrone di Castel del Rio IGP" (Marrone Chestnut of Castel del Rio PGI). Chestnut tree growing is characteristic of the area, in particular of Santerno Valley, for over 500 years.
The chestnut tree is a big-size and very long-lived tree (it can live over 1,000 years), particularly developing in the trunk that can usually reach diameters of over 2 meters, often with large cavities. Its cultivation is widespread in the Italian Apennines and also in the Alps, usually between the 300 and the 1,000 meters of altitude. The chestnut grove, getting old, becomes very similar to a natural woodland, to the extent that it is a habitat protected by the European Union. The production of marroni chestnuts does not need either chemical treatments or fertilizers, fungicide or pesticide. Marrone chestnut is sweeter and more scented than common chestnuts; it is bigger, has a more elongate shape and, above all, has a very fine pulp more easily separated from the cuticle that makes it an ideal fruit not only for the traditional "bruciate" or roasted chestnuts and for boiled marroni, but also for the production of flour used to prepare castagnaccio and chestnut flour polenta.
Marrone Chestnut of Castel del Rio PGI
(photo by PR Vena del Gesso Romagnola)
