Escapades in Italian: Sagra delle Castagne

Well, it's my favorite time of year in Italy - the high point of the sagra season. Sagras, festivals which celebrate an item (normally food related) that's typical to that specific city, occur at all times of the year, however, I've noticed that they seem to be most varied (and more highly concentrated) during the Fall. There are sagras for just about everything. In Ladispoli they have the Sagra dei Carciofi (artichokes), Morlupo has the Sagra della Salsiccia (sausage), there's a Sagra d'ogni cosa fritta (everything that's fried), polenta, wine and beans.

So today, I went to the Sagra delle Castagne (or chestnut festival) in the town of Marradi with my friend Lisa. There were chestnuts prepared in just about every way you can think of: chestnut grappa, roasted chestnuts, marron glaces, chestnut flour, chestnut cakes and pies, fried marrons, marron tortellinis, and even puddings. Needless to say, it was yummy. They also had glasses of novello wine for 1 euro EVERYWHERE and artisan salamis and other cured meats as well as cheeses.

Check out some of my pictures: