Discover Colognora

Colognora’s cultural themes can be explored in various ways: the Museo del Castagno focuses on the chestnut as a working material and food; the Chiesa dei Santi Michele e Caterina offers another focus, with its architectural features and religious art. A path to a metato leads into the immediate surroundings of the village. Traditional necci, made from chestnut flour, are another highlight. For planning your trip, this offers a choice between an ethnographic collection, a church, a village walk and local food.

The Museo del Castagno and the chestnut

The Museo del Castagno was established in 1985, following the acquisition of ethnographic materials owned by local residents. Its ethnographic collection includes tools and is divided into 20 sections. The chestnut theme runs from the collection through drying and processing to its use as food. The work of the woodcutter is also presented as an activity associated with the chestnut. The museum’s contents thus range from objects and working methods to the use of chestnuts as food.

During a visit to the Museo del Castagno, you can also follow a path through the village and its immediate surroundings to a metato, a chestnut-drying house. The path complements the collection’s thematic presentation with a direct connection to the drying of chestnuts: the museum focuses on tools and work processes, while the route takes you through the village to the drying house.

Necci: chestnut flour as food

Necci are also connected to the chestnut, this time as food. They are made from chestnut flour and can be served plain or filled with ricotta, sausage, bacon and other ingredients; filled necci are rolled up and eaten. This traditional preparation can be distinguished from the museum’s broader presentation: the museum covers various stages of chestnut processing, while necci are one specific way of using chestnut flour in a dish.

Church, architectural history and art

The Chiesa dei Santi Michele e Caterina was built from 1457 onwards and retains simple, austere pre-Romanesque forms. The year provides a point of reference for the start of construction; the description of the forms draws attention to the church’s design. This brings together architectural history and a concise characterization of the architecture.

At the center, the Virgin Mary and Child are depicted in a mystical marriage with Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Saint Michael and Saint Catherine are the patron saints of the new church. The stained-glass windows are also part of the history of the church’s furnishings: they were installed on 3 October 2010. The image, patron saints and windows represent different aspects of the church that you can consider separately as you look around.

The Alfredo Catalani room in the museum

The Museo del Castagno has a room dedicated to the musician Alfredo Catalani. On display there are letters from Catalani to Ugo Bassani, various photographs and the musician’s memorabilia. These include a bust made by Aurelio Franceschi in 1897. This room offers a musical focus alongside the ethnographic collection and chestnut processing: here, the focus is on Catalani and the memorabilia dedicated to him.

For planning your trip, the themes are easy to distinguish: the museum combines chestnut processing with a dedicated room about Alfredo Catalani; the path leads to a chestnut-drying house; and the church and necci complement these themes with religious art and a dish made from chestnut flour.

Discover more destinations: San Martino In Freddana, Fondagno, Villa A Roggio, Trebbio, Celle, Fiano Pescaglia, Loppeglia, Piegaio Basso.

For the broader travel overview: Pescaglia.