A fruit that comes from afar
At first glance it looks like a chestnut, but the marrone has something extra: it is larger, tastier, and its skin peels away easily. Rich in potassium and vitamin C, it is a healthy and nourishing fruit that is easy to digest and has accompanied life in the Apennines for centuries.
The first chestnut groves in the Senio and Lamone valleys were no coincidence: tradition has it that Benedictine monks planted them about a thousand years ago, laying the foundations for the prosperity of local communities.
A history spanning centuries
The chestnut tree has ancient roots, reaching us from distant lands such as Asia Minor. The Etruscans brought it to Italy, and the Romans found it already growing in the forests: for them it was not a luxury food, but an everyday staple, the “bread of the poor” that sustained people when little else was available.
For centuries, chestnuts and marroni were the backbone of mountain communities, the basis for flours, soups and rustic desserts that still tell stories of hunger, hard work and the ingenuity of our people.
Pride of the Romagnolo Apennines
Today marroni no longer carry the label of “poor food”: they are a prized product, the stars of fairs, festivals and recipes that blend rural tradition with modern taste. Whether roasted over an open fire, boiled, ground into flour or used in desserts, the marrone remains a symbol of home, nature and authenticity.
