Montecreto’s Chestnut Park is symbolic of the village, and is a true oasis of peace and tranquillity, where you can relax amidst its centuries-old chestnut trees.
The first trees were planted in the park back in the time of Matilde di Canossa, and the trees standing there today represent the passing decades.
The twisted trunks and hollowed-out barks are almost like human faces marked by the passage of time and the ravages of nature. There is an atmosphere of great peace and tranquillity, thanks to which the park has a reputation as one of the most beautiful and charming areas of greenery in the Apennines.
With Mount Caprile acting as a natural backdrop, the Park encapsulates the very essence of Montecreto: hard work and labour, and the almost unchanging passing of time, as well as natural beauty and man’s ability to shape this, respecting and improving upon it at the same time.
You can today rediscover these aspects of the past by visiting the ancient “metato”, or chestnut drying shed, and the “Sleeping Beauties” mill, which have been brought back to life and are now in working order. They are often used during local festivals and fetes, keeping traditions alive and passing them down to the new generations.
The Chestnut Park, witness to the passing of time, is today the perfect place for children too.
With its wide, green spaces and well-equipped play area, children can play happily in the open air, surrounded by the beauty of the majestic, centuries-old chestnut trees which watch wisely over them.
In the autumn, the park is also one of the main locations for the Montecreto Chestnut Festival. You will see people going to collect chestnuts in the park throughout autumntime; the chestnuts are free for all, under the only proviso that the trees and park regulations are respected.
Here is a video showing you the magic of the park.
