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Montefeltro chestnuts are a fine variety of the fruits of Castanea, typical of this area and in particular of the Alta Valmarecchia Mountain Community – already included in the National List of Traditional Products.
It is a niche commodity and, as such, is characterized by rather limited production. The presence of centuries-old chestnut groves, still active, demonstrates how the cultivation of this product has got very ancient origins: as a matter of fact, it can be traced back to medieval times.

This particular type of fruits is called “Marroni” and they’re different from the common chestnut;
the latter, in fact, is produced by wild plants, they are not very big, they appear crushed on one side and feature a thick skin, as well as a dark brown colour and tasty pulp. The “marroni”, produced from grown plants improved with grafts, are larger, heart-shaped and feature a light brown streaked peel with a sweet pulp – the fruit, in particular, is devoid of the inner skin on the pulp. “Marroni” are also very easy to peel; they are called “ballotte” when they are boiled in water, or “caldarroste”, when roasted over the fire in perforated pans.
They are also used among the ingredients of many first and second courses, as well as fresh and dry desserts.
In order to promote and protect the production and consumption of Montefeltro “marroni”, the “Consortium for the protection and enhancement of Valmarecchia chestnuts” was established in 2000.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)