If there is one date circled on calendars all across Tuscia, it is October in Soriano nel Cimino. The Sagra delle Castagne — the Chestnut Festival — is the most famous autumn celebration in the province of Viterbo: almost sixty editions, an entire village in medieval costume at the foot of the Orsini castle, and the scent of roasted chestnuts filling the streets for three weekends.
The 2026 dates: the first three weekends of October
As tradition dictates, the festival takes over the first three weekends of October; the most eagerly awaited moment is the Palio between the contrade, scheduled for Sunday October 4, 2026. Our advice is to check the official programme close to the event for the times of parades and tournaments, which change from weekend to weekend.
What to expect
The festival is really two festivals in one. There is the medieval celebration: the contrade march in historical parades with hundreds of performers, flag-wavers and drummers, and compete in games and tournaments beneath the castle that was once both a prison and a papal residence. And there is the feast for the palate: stalls and contrada taverns serving the chestnuts of the Cimini mountains in every form — roasted, in desserts, even as chestnut beer — alongside traditional Viterbo cooking.
Practical tips
Go on Saturday or Sunday morning if you want to wander at your own pace: Sunday afternoon is peak time. Park outside the centre and walk up — the village is closed to traffic during the festival. And bring a jumper: October evenings in the Cimini mountains are already crisp, which makes the roasted chestnuts taste even better.
Where to stay for the Chestnut Festival
Soriano nel Cimino is about 20 minutes from Villa Vacanze Valentina, in Bassano in Teverina. October in Tuscia is a wonderful month — woods turning colour, villages without the crowds, perfect temperatures for exploring — and the villa is the ideal base camp for combining the festival with Bomarzo, Viterbo and Civita di Bagnoregio. Discover our holiday home or write to us about October dates.
Photo: Albarubescens, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.