THE CHESTNUT GROVES OF BRINZIO

A long-standing tradition linked to chestnut growing is still preserved in the Brinzio woods

The chestnut tree is one of the most characteristic plants of the Lombard pre-Alpine belt, with a long tradition especially in Brinzio. :besides providing valuable wood, the chestnut tree - which is still grown today in the chestnut groves - has represented a precious source of food for centuries: chestnuts were in fact one of the main foods of the local communities.

In the past, the chestnut harvest involved entire families, especially women and children, who collected the chestnuts wearing aprons (besascia) and rakes (ruspett), and transported them to the village, where they were selected based on quality and intended use.

The first-choice chestnuts were consumed or given as gifts, the second-choice ones were sold, while the third-choice ones were smoked and preserved as a food reserve thanks to a special drying system that took place in the Grà, a building specifically dedicated to this process. The fourth-choice chestnuts were instead used as feed for livestock.

Over the years, several local chestnut varieties have been selected in the Brinzio woods, each with unique characteristics, such as the sweet Venegon or the robust and productive Piliscè, passing through the Pajè, with dark-skinned fruits, or the Russiror, which produces thin, light and shiny chestnuts, which testify to the rich agricultural tradition of this pre-Alpine territory.