The cultivation of the chestnut tree for the production of fruit (chestnut or marrone) in the Colli Euganei area has ancient origins dating back to Roman times, as attested by Pliny (1st century BC) who recounts that the grafting of chestnut trees was taught to the Neapolitans by the Este Corelio.
The chestnut tree thrives on siliceous soils, such as those derived from the volcanic rocks of the Colli Euganei, and predominantly covers the cooler northern slopes, although it is also present, as in this case, in other areas. Flowering occurs towards the end of May - June and emits a typical, very fragrant odor. The fruits, each derived from a flower, mature within the characteristic spiky burr; more precisely, it is called a chestnut when two or three fruits mature in each burr, and marrone when the variety of chestnut produces a single specimen per burr. The marronàro is obtained through grafting from the chestnut tree, a process that allows for the production of larger and tastier fruits.
These majestic centuries-old trees are also recognizable by the left-handed spiral fissures of the trunk, which make them appear as if they are twisted upon themselves.
Large internal cavities in the trunks are very visible, measuring several meters in length. The marronàri reach a height of about 13 meters with a circumference that varies between 4 and 5 meters; the harmonious crown develops in an articulated manner, branching from the trunk about 5 m above the ground.
Their cultivation, once very widespread because the delicious fruit was a source of income and a staple of the diet, has now drastically reduced to just a few specimens that document the past exploitation of the resources of the Euganean territory.
Living witnesses of centuries of history, the marronàri have withstood atmospheric adversities, natural disasters, but above all, the transformation of the territory carried out by humans. The large trees, besides having scientific interest and historical and cultural importance, represent an open-air laboratory.
The chestnut grove is called "E Castagnare de Baderla" (Baderla is the nickname of a local resident) and consists of about ten centuries-old chestnuts, but one in particular has a diameter of over 3 meters. The aerial part of the mother plant is no longer there, but its roots are alive and have given rise to three new chestnut trees, which are in turn becoming centuries-old. It has been estimated that the "mother" plant is approximately 1,000 years old, even surviving the conquests of Ezzelino da Romano.
