by Giuseppe Rappazzo
Every year, in the suggestive setting of the hills of Marzano Appio (CE), the Primitiva Chestnut Festival takes place, an event that celebrates the traditions, authentic flavors, and cultural heritage of our land.
In synergy with the mayor Andrea Terranova and in collaboration with the president of the Pro-loco Andrea Coppola, the Fiat 500 Club Italia, represented by the undersigned, trustee of the Upper Caserta Coordination and the partner Gianfranco Lombari (of the Caserta Coordination), on Saturday 20 September 2025 organized the rally called "In 500 at the Primitiva Chestnut Festival", with the sole aim of combining the passion for motors with the desire to showcase the beauty of our territory.
Twenty-five crews with their splendid Fiat 500s, polished and reconditioned, participated in the event. They were welcomed in Piazza Lombari in the hamlet of Campagnola (CE), by the organizers and the mayor who gave each crew a couple of bags of chestnuts and offered them a rich aperitif.
At around 5:45 PM, a Civil Protection vehicle led the way, guiding the legendary twin-cylinder vehicles to the parking area in Marzano Appio.
At 6:30 PM, in the presence of all the crews and visitors, the plaques were delivered to the authorities and organizations present.
The small one Market Square It transformed into a veritable festival village, where the protagonists were vintage Fiat 500s, ready to celebrate the chestnut tradition and the charm of a timeless past. The cars, all in perfect condition and meticulously decorated, lined up along Via Annunziata, creating an evocative procession of bright colors and retro lines. Their shiny bodies reflected the lights of the stalls and the fallen leaves, while participants shared smiles and stories of times gone by. All this amidst the stalls of typical products: warm roasted chestnuts scented with autumn, homemade jams, traditional sweets, and many other delicacies to celebrate this season's harvest, breathing in an air of conviviality and joy, chatter, memories, and laughter.
Live music and folk songs accompanied the entire afternoon, engaging both adults and children in spontaneous dancing and singing. The most magical moment was the final procession, when all the Fiat 500s set off, crossing the streets illuminated by the sunset, the sound of their engines mingling with the laughter and voices of those who had experienced a special day. And finally, between a toast With local wine and a traditional dessert, we bid farewell with the promise to see each other again soon, because this chestnut festival in a vintage Fiat 500 was much more than just a simple event: it was an opportunity to share emotions, memories, and the pleasure of being together, in an authentic atmosphere full of human warmth.
The organizers would like to thank the participating members and all those who collaborated to make the event a success.
A heartfelt thank you to the mayor of the city of Marzano Appio Andrew Terranova, to the councilor Noemi Fera, to the president of the Pro-loco Andrea Onion and to the coordinator of Civil Protection Luigi Formicola.
