With autumn comes the chestnut harvest, and with the harvest, chestnut festivals. Many small towns and villages in and around Bagni di Lucca hold a chestnut festival. I love them, it is a chance to see the villages come alive and show off just a little.
I visited the festival at Colognora with Heather Jarman from Sapori-e-Saperi recently and joined hundreds of people wandering around this gorgeous little village.
There were displays of old equipment used to grind grain.
This is thousands of years old.
This one from the 8th century.
And this elaborate one…..I can’t remember.
There was a man making nails….slowly.
There were hand made things to buy. I had to have one of those brooms…..and the flour sifter.
Colognora has a wonderful chestnut museum, full of things from life in a different time.
This is an old water driven grinding device.
These men and boys look great dressed up for the photo.
There were many basket makers…..all different styles.
Meet Dina who makes baskets and her husband who makes wooden shoes.
Here are some young weavers….it is great to see that the skills are being handed down.
And just look at this gorgeous man.
The village is very pretty.
There were some men sawing wood.
There was music.
And of course there were chestnuts roasting.
These delicious little things are frittelle made from chestnut flour.
Keep an eye out for local festivals when you visit Italy…..you won’t be disappointed.
Click here to see the gorgeous festival last year in Lupinaia, high in the Garfagnana.
Fantastic! You’re lucky to always be present in such events! 🙂
By: Mia Dolce Toscana on November 13, 2012
at 6:12 am
Thanks to Heather.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 13, 2012
at 9:02 am
Reblogged this on RD Revilo.
By: The Mind of RD Revilo on November 13, 2012
at 6:24 am
Oooooooooh could almost smell and taste those roasted chestnuts from here.
By: dianne Cant on November 13, 2012
at 6:30 am
…..and they tasted pretty good.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 13, 2012
at 9:02 am
I could “kill” for one of those mortars and pestles! They are really wonderful. And Colognora is a beautiful town, full of character. It was used as a set by Spike Lee to film “Miracle at St Anna”, because Stazzema was looking too modern nowadays. The only problem with the town is that they speak a very difficult dialect, a mixture of spoken or vulgar Latin (“vulgata”) and Lombard… hopeless to try to understand them!
By: mulino dominillo on November 13, 2012
at 6:43 am
I will have to look out for that film, and I want to go to Stazzema too.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 13, 2012
at 9:03 am
Debra I really enjoyed this post. I imagined myself being there, I would have had to have a broom and flour sifter too. A beautiful village.
By: Jenny Brown on November 13, 2012
at 7:56 am
The broom is now in our new house in Vergemoli.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 13, 2012
at 9:04 am
Debra, absolutely beautiful. Lucky lucky you, to be able to ‘shoot’ all this. I love the museum, those old tools, the old craft…..wonderful. Thanks for showing this to us. Ciao Carina
By: anyone4curryandotherthings on November 13, 2012
at 8:17 am
There is so much to see in the villages around Bagni di Lucca….I will never run out of places to go.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 13, 2012
at 9:05 am
Love the old the equipment …. Craft is one of my passions so it was great to see the basket-makers at work.
By: Just Add Attitude on November 13, 2012
at 8:44 am
I loved the basket weavers. I now have one of Dina’s baskets.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 13, 2012
at 9:08 am
Ciao Debra, I am Angelo from Lucca Italian School, playing accordeon at the chestnut festival. Grazie mille per la bella foto!
By: Lucca Italian School on November 13, 2012
at 10:07 am
It was a fun day. I thought I recognised you when I took the photo. I am glad you like it.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 13, 2012
at 11:36 am
What a great event to attend. There’s lots of cultural events in the area.
You’re absolutely right when you say there’s so much to do.
The chestnuts and frittelle look pretty good too!
By: christopher oconnor on November 13, 2012
at 12:06 pm
If you look around, there are festivals happening all the time in Italy. Each one is different, and it is a great way to meet the locals.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 13, 2012
at 9:19 pm
How fun to “attend” this event with you! Thank you, Debra! Wonderfully evocative photos that remind us all why we adore Italy. Ah, those adorable basket weavers…..
And thank you for reminding me that when I get back to Sicily in early December, all those luscious chestnuts await me. We get them from the slopes of Etna. I’ve even bought my own chestnut roasting pan!! Can’t wait!
By: jann on November 13, 2012
at 2:38 pm
We have bought a chestnut roasting device as well. I look forward to using it one day.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 13, 2012
at 9:19 pm
Maybe I’ll be there for it next fall. I’m definitely going to be in Lucca at the end of Sept. beginning of Oct.-too far away!
By: paninigirl on November 13, 2012
at 2:44 pm
Can’t you come in spring?
By: Debra Kolkka on November 13, 2012
at 9:20 pm
I’m hoping to do both!!!! I do have a group booked for the fall already.
By: paninigirl on November 14, 2012
at 4:15 pm
What? No games of conkers?
You know how we loved the farro festival we went to with Heather. This one looks great too. Love your shots of the old chestnut-preparing equipment.
By: Richard Tulloch on November 13, 2012
at 6:54 pm
I haven’t seen anyone playing conkers….I’ll have to look out for it.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 13, 2012
at 9:21 pm
You are making my mouth water for all of those fabulous Fall foods….can’t wait!! We are on our way this Thursday..WOOHOO!
By: Our Kitchen Inventions on November 13, 2012
at 7:15 pm
Lucky you! I hope you get some good weather. There has been heavy rain in Bagni di Lucca.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 13, 2012
at 9:21 pm
Love all your pictures of the villagers doing their crafts!
By: thirdeyemom on November 13, 2012
at 7:19 pm
I love this too. Let’s hope there are people around to carry on the traditions.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 13, 2012
at 9:22 pm
Yes indeed. It is sad when traditions like these are lost.
By: thirdeyemom on November 16, 2012
at 1:20 pm
Oh how I love roast chestnuts. As children, we used to roast them on bonfire night. The last time I had any was in New York a few years ago. Wonderful photos. I so enjoyed them all. 🙂
By: adinparadise on November 13, 2012
at 8:41 pm
I love chestnuts too, especially when they are freshly roasted.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 13, 2012
at 9:23 pm
What a beautiful place, and how I wished to be there, dear Debra, but you made me to live/feel how it would be, Thank you, love, nia
By: niasunset on November 13, 2012
at 9:28 pm
I hope you can visit our area one day.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 14, 2012
at 9:06 am
I want one of those sifters, we have been to a chestnut fiesta but never saw all that wonderful equipment you found, thanks for the pics.
By: rozmacallan on November 13, 2012
at 11:09 pm
I will keep an eye out for a sifter for you. They are bound to turn up somewhere else.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 14, 2012
at 9:07 am
I’m sorry to say I never tasted a chestnut. May need to remedy that. Also, the grinding stones are fascinating. Hard to believe they’ve been around for so long!
Hugs,
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on November 14, 2012
at 12:28 am
Chestnuts are an acquired taste. I remember trying them in London many years ago and being very disappointed, but now I love them.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 14, 2012
at 9:08 am
What a wonderful day and all with smell of roasting chestnuts too. I just know I would be a better cook with one of those flour sifters.
By: Jan on November 14, 2012
at 10:50 am
I think so too, it looks like I will have to buy a few of them to bring back to Australia.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 14, 2012
at 11:39 am
Thanks for sharing your wonderful day … and for reminding me of the days my mother roasted chestnuts in the oven.
By: aFrankAngle on November 14, 2012
at 12:37 pm
It was a fun day…with roast chestnuts as a bonus.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 15, 2012
at 11:32 am
Wow – what a great festa. I love that there were so many crafts as well as the obligatory chestnut roast. The old tools are amazing – neolithic, imagine! Lovely photos, as always…
By: farfalle1 on November 15, 2012
at 2:30 am
It is great that these festivals attract such good crowds. Sleepy villages come alive.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 15, 2012
at 11:33 am
gorgeous Debra. So wonderful to be able to go to things like that.
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on November 15, 2012
at 2:59 am
I feel very lucky to be able to join in the fun.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 15, 2012
at 11:35 am
Beautiful collections!!
By: Rexlin Victor on November 18, 2012
at 3:26 am
The festival was great fun. I love it when these villages are full of people.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 18, 2012
at 5:21 am
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By: The chestnut festival at Colognora « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond | Arounder on November 22, 2012
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Beautiful, beautiful post, Debra!!! Those weavers, they’re all smiling for you. So much life to the photos. So heartwarming. Those materials, very fascinating… 7.000 Anni :D. Then you show pictures ofvillage…just brilliant posting! And of course, you whet our appetite with those chestnuts. AWESOME POST!
By: rommel on November 24, 2012
at 7:30 pm
I spoke to most of the weavers, who were happy to tell us about themselves. I have one of Dina’s baskets now.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 25, 2012
at 12:00 am
What a spirit! I do talk to strangers during my travels, but only sometimes. I’m shy on asking them if I can take pictures. Those pictures is all-smiles awesome!
By: rommel on November 25, 2012
at 3:16 am
I was reluctant at first, but most people love to talk and are happy to be photographed. I have been knocked back, but that is OK too.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 25, 2012
at 3:53 am
Ow, chest nut festival, that sounds awesome! your pictures are beautiful.
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at 8:01 am
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By: My favourite places in 2012 « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on December 31, 2012
at 12:34 am
Interesing. I will stay there for a week in two weeks 🙂
By: Jenni Sutinen on May 25, 2013
at 2:17 pm
It is a very cute little town. The chestnut festival happens later in the year, but there is still lots to see.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 25, 2013
at 2:28 pm
brilliant – I visited the Museum last autumn and it was closed – we had the village all to ourselves but we shall have to go back to see the Museum – and I should be very interested to catch up with Heather Jarman – I am Rob Jarman and have Cambridge connections too!
By: rob jarman on June 9, 2013
at 3:50 pm
The museum is well worth visiting. I hope you contact Heather.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 10, 2013
at 7:22 pm
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