Chestnuts, a forgotten grappa dessert and a 1990s dance party.

In this story: NuOVANTA and the 1990s and 2000s dance party · A forgotten grappa speciality · Roasted chestnuts and rare Veneto food · Dates and practical information ↓

THE 1990S AND 2000S ARE BACK FOR ONE NIGHT

On Saturday 24 October 2026, the hillside village of Alvese, in Vicenza's Upper Chiampo Valley, hosts NuOVANTA, a live party dedicated to the pop and dance hits of the 1990s and 2000s. The show begins at 9 pm as part of the 44th Festa dei Maruni, a three day autumn food festival devoted to the chestnuts and traditional cooking of the surrounding countryside. Expect a night of nostalgic dance music, roasted chestnuts and recipes that have survived for generations in the mountain villages of Vicenza.

ROASTED CHESTNUTS AND VICENZA'S MOUNTAIN RECIPES

The festival takes its name from maruni, the local word for sweet chestnuts. Its signature maruni brustolà are chestnuts roasted over the fire, served alongside several traditional foods of the Vicenza countryside. Look for gnocchi con la fioretta, soft dumplings made with a delicate, semi liquid dairy product obtained during cheesemaking, and Monte Faldo potato gnocchi, another speciality recognised with a municipal De.Co. designation. There is an unexpected story behind the festival itself. In 1983, the first chestnut gathering was organised as a farewell for a local missionary leaving for Japan. What began as a village occasion has since grown into an annual autumn festival of food, music, walking and cycling through the surrounding hills.

THE SWEET GRAPPA DUMPLINGS THAT WERE ONCE DINNER

Among the festival's most unusual specialities are the Caùci di Alvese, traditional sweet dumplings made with pan biscotto, the dried bread typical of Veneto, milk, eggs, raisins, lemon, sugar and grappa. The bread is crushed and cooked in milk, then mixed with the remaining ingredients and shaped into elongated dumplings. After resting, the Caùci are boiled in water and milk, then served warm with melted butter, sugar and cinnamon. 

Historically, these sweet dumplings were substantial enough to constitute an entire festive meal. Their possible origins have been linked to the Cimbrian communities that once inhabited the area, with similarities to Central European bread dumplings. The village brought the recipe back into public attention in 2009, when it became part of the Festa dei Maruni menu. In 2018, the Municipality of Nogarole Vicentino granted the Caùci di Alvese their De.Co., a municipal designation recognising traditional local food heritage.

PLAN YOUR 1990S AND 2000S NIGHT IN VICENZA

Festival dates: 23 to 25 October 2026

NuOVANTA live party: Saturday 24 October, 9:00 pm

Where: Festa dei Maruni, Centro Alvese, Nogarole Vicentino, Vicenza, Italy

Admission: Free, food and drinks purchased separately

Organiser: Gruppo Alvese A.P.S. Information: +39 333 5067098

Email: gruppoalveseonlus@gmail.com

Food note: The Caùci have traditionally been served on the festival's opening Friday. Confirm their availability for Saturday directly with the organisers.