One of the most famous and appreciated products of Vulture are chestnuts, harvested at high altitude on the slopes of the volcano.

Chestnut woods cover a good part of the agricultural and forest surface of the municipalities of Atella, Barile, Rapolla, Rionero in Vulture and Melfi, where more than 2 thousand hectares are dedicated to this crop. In this area of Vulture the production is particularly profitable, thanks to the high yields which can reach even 40 quintals per hectare, against an average production of about 25-30.

There are many varieties

The first one, the "Pistoiese", also called "Settembrina", is an early and small-sized chestnut that ripens at the beginning of autumn. The second, the "casentinese", ripens a little later and is larger in size, whereas the third is called "cuneese", because it was imported from Piedmont. The most widespread species in the territory, however, is the so-called "marroncino di Melfi", with a rounded shape, rather symmetrical, and with a shiny brown skin, with evident streaks. A product which has marked the economy and the culinary tradition of the territory, becoming part of many sweet and savory recipes. The right occasion to taste them is the “Sagra della Varola” organized in Melfi.