In Autumn the woods of the upper lake are the ideal destination for an absorbing wander at the very heart of nature where you can take in the surrounding foliage at close hand in all its splendour. Following the ancient mule tracks that climb the gentle slopes you’re likely to come across wayside shrines, tiny oratories and sixteenth century churches which bear witness to the importance of the area as a centre for the diffusion of Christianity between the 15th and 17th centuries. For anyone with a sweet tooth, this is the perfect opportunity for chestnut picking. In fact, due to the acidic nature of the soil, the mountains of Alta Lario are home to the most extensive chestnut groves in the province of Como. For centuries the chestnut woodland has provided local people with a living, as the chestnut is the principal food of the rural population for several months of the year.
 

In ancient times known as the “bread for the poor”, the chestnut was eaten fresh, boiled, or roasted over the fire, and used in the preparation of a range of dishes or transformed into flour. Chestnuts are ideal for the effortless creation of a peasant dish with an age-old flavour: il machèt. Perfect for cooking on cold winter eves, maybe on an old wood-burning stove, il machét is an extremely simple creamy rice and chestnut soup with a unique flavour.