Capranica Prenestina- Mosciarelle
Capranica Prenestina- Mosciarelle

Capranica Prenestina. Mosciarelle Chestnuts

The chestnut groves in Prenestini Mountains produce a particular variety of this typical autumn fruit.

In Capranica Prenestina chestnut are called 'mosciarella' (very soft) which take their name from their method of processing. They are very small tasty chestnuts and are still dried according to tradition.

The chestnut was for centuries the main food of the population of Capranica Prenestina and it is said that the first specimens were planted by the Romans at the time of the war between Mario and Silla, just to feed the population.

In 1400 the Papal States issued a series of policies to promote new crops by rewarding those who planted new chestnut trees replacing old forests and plantations.

In this way, in the sixteenth and seventeenth century all the vineyards were replaced by chestnut trees.


Written by:
Benedicta Lee

Born in Rome from an Italian mother and American father, she works as a freelance communications manager and designer in the tourism sector, a career and interest which she is pursuing with a...

Subscribe to Newsletter

Discover a territory through the emotions of the people that have lived it.