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Castanea sativa (Fagaceae)

It is located in the area of Bologna’s Appennines and this magnificent chestnut tree catchtes immediately the eye of the visitors. The tree is more than 800 years old and the trunk circumference is of 8.60 m, this part is complitely hollow and a bench for seven people has been built inside it. The sign with its name “Osteria del Bugeon” has been put on the outside.

Once, hollow chestnut trees were used by the inhabitants as a shelter from bad weather, to hunt local birds, which inhabited these trees during Winter times, or to save woodcutters’ tools.

In the last years, the branches, which are heavier and heavier, are putting a strain to the mechanics of the tree, which risks to break down. For these reasons, a consistent pruning has been made and a huge band has been put around the trunk in order to avoid its opening because of the branches’ weight.

How to reach it:

Departing from Bologna, follow highway 64 till Porretta Terme where, after some kilometres are present the signs indicating the road to Badi (municipality of Castel di Casio). The tree is located just outside of town in the municipality of Camugnano (BO).

Botanical characteristics:

Chestnut trees are spread all over Southern Europe and its diffusion area is influenced by human activities. As a matter of fact, people have been cultivating it since ancient times because of its nourishing fruits.

The species is slightly heliophilous and suffers late frosts. They vegetate well in areas with suboceanic weathers, while they are not suitable for continental ones.

They prefer loose, fresh and rich in nutrients, like phosphorous or potassium with acid and sub-acid reactions, soils.

Chestnut trees grow between 200 and 800 m of altitude on the Alps, while they are spread between 1000-1300 m, on the southern Appennines.

The species is cultivated principally because of its fruits, but tannin is obtained by its cortex and it is employed to tan the hides. In addition, its wood is an appreciated type of firewood.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)