Monte Baldo Chestnut Festival Founded in San Zeno di Montagna

On Saturday, June 24th, a new association dedicated to promoting the culture and gastronomy of the Monte Baldo was founded in San Zeno di Montagna (Verona): it is the Compagnia de la Castagna dei Paladini di Ca’ Montagna.

At first glance, presenting a confraternity “named” after the chestnut, a typical autumn fruit, at the beginning of summer might seem outdated, but it is precisely between late June and early July that chestnut trees bloom on the Monte Baldo, heralding the sweetness of autumn’s harvest.

Therefore, it is no coincidence that the Compagnia chose this date to announce its inception.

The Presentation Ceremony

The ceremony unveiling the new organization will take place at 6 p.m. at the three-hundred-year-old palazzo di Ca’ Montagna, masterfully restored by the local municipal administration.

Attending will be, dressed in medieval-style costumes (the creation stemmed from a serious research project on archival sources that lasted several months), the founding members, who will also host a gala dinner in the evening at Ristorante La Casa degli Spiriti.

The Protagonists of the Event

Who are the main figures of this adventure? At the top is the Gran Paladino, a role played by a well-known Verona-based professional, lawyer Marco Bisagno, who has chosen San Zeno di Montagna as his residence.

Other key figures include a fellow medieval enthusiast, Gino Abati, the ceremonialist is the poet Franco Ravazzin, and the chancellor is journalist Angelo Peretti.

Among the ” paladini “-the members of the Compagnia– are the mayor of San Zeno di Montagna, Cipriano Castellani, various municipal officials from the Cento Baldense area, and some Verona-based entrepreneurs, including Fortunato Montagna, a direct descendant of the family that once held feudal rule over Montagna di Monte Baldo, now San Zeno.