Fifty editions, a bonfire lit in mid-October, and a rule that’s become a tradition here: roasted chestnuts aren’t sold— they’re given away.
The festival features polenta, braised beef, and tripe; Saturday’s fireworks; a wheelbarrow race between neighborhoods; and the history of a town that owes its name to an ox cart.
The festival’s schedule, day by day
Friday is the after-work night. The bar opens at 5:00 p.m., the kitchen at 7:30 p.m., and at 9:30 p.m. , the roasted chestnuts and the live performance by DMC (Delirio Musicale Collettivo) kick off together.
Saturday is the busiest day. In the afternoon, at the Municipal Park, there are birds of prey with the “Battesimo del Guanto” (2:30 p.m.) and ponies (3:00 p.m.). At 4:30 p.m., under the big top, the cake contest takes place.
The evening program is the same: food served starting at 7:30 p.m., roasted chestnuts, and a concert by The Sica at 9:30 p.m. The fireworks display begins at 10:30 p.m .
Sunday gets off to an early start, with the market opening at 8 a.m. and the Bergamo Harlequin parade at 10 a.m. The food stands open for lunch at noon, and roasted chestnuts are handed out at 3:30 p.m.
At 4:15 p.m., the most traditional moment of all takes place: “I Carett de la Decima del Curato, ” the wheelbarrow race between neighborhoods. The food stands reopen at 7:30 p.m., and DJ Ruggy wraps up the festivities starting at 9:30 p.m.
Polenta, braised beef, and tripe: an authentic Lombard village festival
Here, chestnuts are just the excuse; the rest is what really matters. The kitchen serves up dishes that make perfect sense in October: polenta with braised beef and tripe, and the “büsecca” made by Milanese grandmothers.
There’s also a grill stand for those who want to play it safe. And there are two bars, serving beer, spritz, and gin and tonic.
Why Trezzano Is Called Rosa
Fun fact: Until 1862, the town was simply called Trezzano. Then a royal decree added “Rosa” to avoid confusion with the other town, the one on the Naviglio Canal. The decree was issued on October 19—the day after the festival, the name turns 164 years old.
“Rosa” takes its name from the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary, located at the entrance to the town. Tradition has it that the cart carrying the statue of the Virgin Mary, on its way to the parish church, came to a halt right there. The oxen refused to move any further, and the shrine was built on that spot.
When to go and how to turn the event into a day trip
If you can only choose one day, Saturday has it all: chestnuts, a concert, and fireworks. Arrive before 7:30 p.m. so you can enjoy dinner at a leisurely pace.
Sunday, on the other hand, is the perfect day for a day trip. Just a few kilometers away are the ruins of the Visconti castle in Trezzo sull’Adda and the workers’ village of Crespi d’Adda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. On Sundays, Crespi has a restricted traffic zone (ZTL): leave your car outside.
The calendar is full of festivals near Milan, and chestnuts are a staple at the fall festivals in the area. But a village festival now in its 50th year that offers roasted chestnuts to everyone remains a rare occurrence among Lombardy’s festivals.
