Castelnuovo Val di Cecina: Land of the chestnut

Every year in October (from the 24th to the 26th for this edition), chestnuts, a typical product of the Upper Val di Cecina area, take centre stage with a festival in the Piazzone involving the village of Castelnuovo Val di Cecina.

Castelnuovo Val di Cecina is located in the southern part of the province of Pisa, on the border with the provinces of Siena and Grosseto. The village is recognisable for its “grape cluster” shape, with stone houses, stairways, narrow streets and the “chiassino”, a narrow alleyway measuring 50 centimetres.

At 576 metres above sea level, it is surrounded by a natural environment that ranges from the Apennines to Mediterranean scrub, returning to hills with vineyards and olive groves. In the upper part are the Church of SS Salvatore and the Holy Crypt, while in the lower part are the city walls with two gates.