Digital buyer journeys
What digital buyer journeys means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Event overview
Overview
Castanea Expo is the first international trade fair focused on chestnut cultivation and its supply chain. Scheduled for December 11 to 13, 2026, at Fortezza da Basso in Florence, the event will feature exhibitions, tastings, and networking opportunities for industry professionals and enthusiasts.
Organized by FirenzeFiera, the expo aims to promote sustainable practices and innovations in the chestnut sector. Castanea Expo takes place in Florence, Italy.
TL;DR
- 1Dates and Venue: Castanea Expo runs from December 11 to 13, 2026, at Fortezza da Basso, Florence, Italy.
- 2Scale and Focus: This event is dedicated to the chestnut cultivation sector, showcasing innovations and products.
- 3Organiser: The event is organized by FirenzeFiera S.p.A, a leading exhibition organizer in Tuscany.
- 4Buyer Authority: Attendees include industry professionals, researchers, and buyers from the food and agriculture sectors.
- 5Entry: Registration is required, with a fee of €250, which includes insurance coverage.
Why visit
Attendees will gain insights into the latest trends in chestnut cultivation, connect with industry leaders, and explore innovative products. The event offers a unique opportunity to network with professionals from various sectors, including agriculture, food production, and tourism. Visitors can participate in workshops, tastings, and discussions that highlight the importance of chestnuts in Italian culture and economy.
Why exhibit
Exhibitors will have the chance to showcase their products and innovations to a targeted audience of industry professionals and buyers. The event provides a platform for networking, collaboration, and visibility in the growing chestnut market. Participating in Castanea Expo allows exhibitors to connect with potential partners and customers, enhancing their business opportunities in the sector.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Who this event is for
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Agricultural producers and suppliers
Food and beverage manufacturers
Tourism operators focusing on rural experiences
Researchers in agricultural sciences
Culinary professionals and chefs
Sustainability advocates and organizations
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Chestnut growers and producers
Food processing companies
Agricultural technology providers
Tourism boards promoting chestnut regions
Machinery manufacturers for chestnut cultivation
Research institutions focused on agronomy
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Chestnut-based food products
Agricultural machinery and tools
Sustainable packaging solutions
Nutraceuticals derived from chestnuts
Wood products from chestnut trees
Tourism services related to chestnut regions
Location & Facilities
Venue
Halls & areas
1Fortezza Da Basso Exhibition Complex
Fortezza da Basso
Fortezza da Basso, Viale Filippo Strozzi, 1, 50129 Firenze, Italy
Facilities
Parking
Fortezza da Basso in Florence typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Food options
On-site catering
On-site diningParking: Fortezza da Basso in Florence typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Gate: Follow organiser signage to the main visitor entrance at Fortezza da Basso for badge collection; allow extra time for security screening during peak morning arrival.
Attend
Entry & tickets
Event days & opening times
DayOpening hours
December 11 – 12:9:30 AM to 7:00 PM
December 13:9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
General admission
Registration fee including insurance coverage.
€250.00
Who runs the show
Organisers
FirenzeFiera S.p.A
Intelligence
Market context
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Florence, Italy
Why it matters
On 2026-12-11 to 2026-12-13, Castanea Expo in Florence covering Chestnut-based food products, Agricultural machinery and tools, Sustainable packaging solutions, Nutraceuticals derived gives food buyers a single calendar window to compare suppliers, validate specs on the stand, and book follow-ups before the next buying cycle - especially when your roadmap matches the published exhibitor profile.
Industry trends
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Sustainability in procurement
What sustainability in procurement means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Automation and labour efficiency
What automation and labour efficiency means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Regional supply-chain resilience
What regional supply-chain resilience means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Hybrid engagement models
What hybrid engagement models means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Plan your trip
Travel & logistics
Local currency · EUR
Hotel tiers
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
Soggiorno Fortezza Fiorentina
Budget
Fortezza da Basso vicinityUSD 95–122 / night
My Friends
Budget
Fortezza da Basso vicinityUSD 95–122 / night
Hotel la Fortezza
Midscale (3-star)
Fortezza da Basso vicinityUSD 150–190 / night
Le Nove Muse Guesthouse
Upper midscale (4-star)
Fortezza da Basso vicinityUSD 150–190 / night
Local transport
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
Bus
Estimated costEUR 2-5 single metro journey (contactless)
Best forLocal Florence city bus to the Fortezza da Basso area
Rome2rio lists bus travel from central Florence to Fortezza da Basso from about EUR 1; ATAF urban tickets cover the city network.
Tram then walk
Estimated costEUR 2-5 single metro journey (contactless)
Best forT1 tram line toward the Fortezza / Stazione Fortezza Fiera area
Moovit lists bus, light rail and train options serving the Fortezza da Basso stops in Florence.
Taxi
Estimated costEUR 35–85 taxi or rideshare to the venue district
Best forCentral Florence hotel to Fortezza da Basso
Short intracity trip inside Florence; the airport run from FLR is a longer fare.
taxi
Estimated costApprox. EUR taxi/rideshare from FLR to venue (estimate; confirm before travel)
Best forFlorence Airport, Peretola (FLR) to Fortezza da Basso
Weather
Florence in mid-December is early winter: expect roughly 3 to 12 degrees Celsius between night lows and afternoon highs, with the coldest readings on clear nights and occasional morning frost. Rain falls mainly as showers rather than all-day downpours, and the Arno valley can be damp, misty or foggy in the mornings. Daylight ends early, so plan the walk between Santa Maria Novella and Fortezza da Basso in daylight where possible. Wear layers, a waterproof outer shell and shoes suited to wet stone paving; halls and historic buildings are heated but entrances and queues are not. Treat these as climatological ranges for planning and check a forecast in the final 48 hours before travel.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Confirm mobile roaming or local SIM options for business visitors to Italy.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Cultural notes
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Venue history
Fortezza da Basso is a 16th-century Medici fortress converted into Florence's main exhibition and congress complex, entry through the Viale Filippo Strozzi side.
Around the fair
The venue sits 10-15 minutes on foot from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station and the San Lorenzo market area, so lunch and evening meals are easy to combine with show visits.
Practical guides
Visitor & Exhibitor Essentials
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Flights
Sample Google Flights searches for 11 Dec 2026 arrival into Florence (FLR) returned indirect itineraries from New York and Tokyo and a British Airways nonstop from London. Fares are quoted per adult including taxes and fees; baggage and seat charges may be extra. Return dates in the samples were set to 15 Dec 2026. Prices change continuously, so re-run the search before booking.
Transport
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Use the nearest international airport serving Florence; Metro, train or taxi links are typically available to the venue district.
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near Fortezza da Basso: Fortezza da Basso vicinity: Soggiorno Fortezza Fiorentina; Fortezza da Basso vicinity: My Friends; Fortezza da Basso vicinity: Hotel la Fortezza.
Ride-hail: Ride-hailing apps are commonly used in Florence; confirm local availability before travel.
Public transit: Florence buses and the T1 tram link the historic centre with the Fortezza da Basso area, with stops near the Stazione Fortezza Fiera car park on Viale Filippo Strozzi. Buy ATAF urban tickets before boarding; a single ride is in the low-euro range.
Parking: On-site parking is available at Fortezza da Basso; confirm daily rates and hall access on the organiser or venue site.
Weather
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: December 2026
Temperature: Approx. 3 to 12 degrees Celsius across the 11 to 13 December 2026 dates, with night lows near 3 and afternoon highs near 12; clear nights can bring frost and the coldest hours are early morning before the halls open.
Seasonality: Mid-December is early winter in Florence, not the rainy autumn peak but still a damp month: expect several wet days across December, mostly short showers, plus morning mist along the Arno. Rain gear and waterproof shoes matter more for the outdoor walk from Santa Maria Novella to Fortezza da Basso than for time inside the halls. Check a local forecast in the final 48 hours before departure.
Packing: Approx. 3 to 12 degrees Celsius across the 11 to 13 December 2026 dates, with night lows near 3 and afternoon highs near 12; clear nights can bring frost and the coldest hours are early morning before the halls open. Mid-December is early winter in Florence, not the rainy autumn peak but still a dam
Plan your trip
Planning
Best day to visit: Day 2 (mid-show)
Mid-show days at Castanea Expo usually combine full exhibitor attendance with scheduled B2B meetings, before early pack-down on the final day.
T-1
Confirm your registration and payment status
T-2
Lock in flights or rail to Florence
T-3
Reserve a hotel close to Fortezza da Basso
T-4
Check passport and Schengen allowance
T-5
Plan the airport-to-venue transfer
T-6
Set up local payment and ticketing
T-7
Pack for Florence in December
T-8
Re-read the organiser programme and hall plan
T-9
Assemble documents and follow-up kit
T-10
Confirm your room and arrival time
T-11
Travel day buffer
T-12
Arrive early for badge collection
Sample visitor itinerary
Route-optimised day
Day 1 · morning
Registration and hall orientation at Fortezza da Basso
Day 2 · core sessions
Supplier meetings and product demos
Day 3 · wrap-up
Final negotiations and follow-up
Networking spots
2Castanea Expo registration concourse
Fortezza da Basso
Central meeting point before and between hall appointments during show days.
Organiser B2B lounge (if offered)
Fortezza da Basso
Hosted matchmaking and buyer programmes when published by the organiser.
Budget
Costs & budget
Build your working budget
Adjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
Estimated budget
Live estimate
- Hotel × 2 nights€190.00
- Per diem × 2€150.00
Estimated total€340.00
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Cost reference
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
visitor_ticket
visitor · General admission
EUR 250 / per person
organiser_published
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| visitor_ticket | visitor | General admission | EUR 250 / per person | organiser_published |
Decision
Visit, exhibit, or skip?
Should you go?
Use this quick check to decide whether Castanea Expo fits your visit, exhibit or skip plan.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
For Castanea Expo, what is your primary role on the show floor?
Decision matrix
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
Your category focus and target suppliers align with the official exhibitor profile.
Best for
Buyers, engineers, and delegates sourcing Chestnut-based food products and Agricultural machinery and tools solutions and benchmarking suppliers at Castanea Expo in Florence.
Min. budget
$741.00
Timeline
4-8 weeks before opening day for registration, hotels, and travel.
Risks
Session times and ticket tiers may change - confirm the official agenda before booking.
exhibit
You have a defined lead-generation or distributor recruitment goal for this market.
Best for
Brands and manufacturers launching Chestnut-based food products and Agricultural machinery and tools products who need qualified meetings with the event's trade audience.
Min. budget
$3,334.00
Timeline
3-6 months for stand booking, freight, staffing, and pre-show marketing.
Risks
Booth pricing and corner premiums vary by hall - confirm with the organiser sales team.
skip
Audience, geography, or commercial goals do not justify travel and stand costs this cycle.
Best for
Teams with weak category fit, budget constraints, or overlapping commitments during the Florence show week.
Timeline
N/A
Risks
Skipping may mean missing buyer meetings if competitors exhibit or attend the same week.
Gallery
Photos
FAQs & glossary
Answers
Frequently asked
When and where is Castanea Expo 2026 being held?
The 2026 edition runs from 11 to 13 December 2026 at Fortezza da Basso in Florence, Italy. Fortezza da Basso is the Medicean fortress fairground operated by Firenze Fiera, roughly 10 to 15 minutes on foot from Florence Santa Maria Novella railway station. Use the Viale Filippo Strozzi side as your reference for entrances and taxi drop-off, and check castaneaexpo.it for the confirmed hall and opening hours closer to the date.
How much does it cost to register for Castanea Expo 2026?
The published general registration price is EUR 250 per person, described as including insurance coverage. That figure is the only price currently listed in the event record, so treat it as the general admission rate rather than a stand or sponsorship price. Confirm inclusions, cancellation terms and any reduced or exhibitor rates on castaneaexpo.it before you pay, and keep the payment receipt with your travel documents.
Which airport is best for reaching Fortezza da Basso?
Florence Peretola (FLR) is the closest airport and the simplest option: the T2 tram runs between the airport and Santa Maria Novella station, from where the fairground is a 10 to 15 minute walk. Pisa Galileo Galilei (PSA) is the usual fallback, with train and bus links to Florence Santa Maria Novella taking around an hour to ninety minutes depending on the service. Bologna (BLQ) is a third option via high-speed rail to Florence.
How do I get from Florence airport to the venue without a car?
Take the T2 tram from Florence Peretola to Santa Maria Novella, then walk north-west to Fortezza da Basso or take a short city bus or tram hop towards the Fortezza and Stazione Fortezza Fiera stops. Buy an airport tram ticket and, if you plan several city rides, a multi-ride urban ticket. Approximate single urban fares sit in the low single-digit euro range; confirm live fares with ATAF before travel.
Do I need a visa to attend from outside the EU?
Italy applies Schengen short-stay rules. Many nationalities, including UK, US, Canadian, Japanese and Australian passport holders, can attend a three-day event visa-free, while other nationalities need a Schengen C visa. Your passport should typically be valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure from the Schengen area and issued within the previous ten years. Apply through the Italian consulate or visa centre for your place of residence several weeks ahead and carry your registration confirmation.
What is the weather like in Florence during the event?
Mid-December in Florence is early winter: expect roughly 3 to 12 degrees Celsius between night lows and afternoon highs, with colder mornings and occasional frost on clear nights. Rain is possible in showers, and the Arno valley can turn damp and foggy. Pack layers, a waterproof outer layer and shoes that cope with wet stone paving, since the walk from Santa Maria Novella to Fortezza da Basso is entirely outdoors.
Can I walk to Fortezza da Basso from my hotel in the historic centre?
Yes, for most central hotels. The fairground sits just outside the old city wall, so properties around Santa Maria Novella, San Lorenzo and the Fortezza district are typically 5 to 20 minutes on foot. Hotels clustered immediately around the fortress, such as those on the Fortezza da Basso vicinity list, are the shortest walk and remove the need for daily tram tickets.
Is there parking at Fortezza da Basso?
On-site parking is available at Fortezza da Basso, with the Stazione Fortezza Fiera car park on Viale Filippo Strozzi serving the fairground area. Daily rates and hall-access rules are set by the venue and are not published in the event record, so confirm current tariffs and whether exhibitor vehicles need a permit before driving into the limited-traffic zone around central Florence.
Do I need to arrive by train or can I fly into Pisa instead?
Both work. Florence Santa Maria Novella is the main rail gateway and is walkable to the venue, which makes high-speed trains from Bologna, Rome and Milan a realistic option. If you fly into Pisa, take the people mover or bus to Pisa Centrale and continue by regional train to Florence Santa Maria Novella, then walk or ride to the fairground.
What should I bring with me to the venue each day?
Carry your registration confirmation and photo ID for badge collection, a charged phone with the ATAF ticket app or a paper ticket, a compact umbrella or rain shell, and business cards if you plan to follow up with exhibitors. December daylight fades early in Florence, so plan any city walking for before late afternoon and keep a warm layer for the walk back to Santa Maria Novella.
Glossary
- Fortezza da Basso
- The 16th-century Medicean fortress in central Florence that serves as one of the city's main exhibition venues. Castanea Expo 2026 is listed at this venue, a short walk north-west of Santa Maria Novella station.
- Firenze Fiera
- The exhibition operator that runs Florence's fairgrounds, including Fortezza da Basso and the adjacent Palazzo degli Affari area. Practical information about halls, entrances and build-up windows comes from the venue and organiser rather than the city council.
- Viale Filippo Strozzi
- The avenue running along the eastern edge of the Fortezza da Basso fairground. It is the usual reference point for the venue's main pedestrian entrances, the Stazione Fortezza Fiera car park and taxi drop-offs.
- Santa Maria Novella (SMN)
- Florence's main railway station and the practical anchor for onward transport. From SMN, the Fortezza da Basso fairground is roughly a 10 to 15 minute walk, or one short tram or bus hop.
- FLR (Florence Peretola)
- IATA code for Florence's city airport, the closest air arrival point to the venue. It sits a few kilometres north-west of the centre and is linked to Santa Maria Novella by the T2 tram as well as by road taxi.
- PSA (Pisa Galileo Galilei)
- IATA code for Pisa airport, the main low-cost alternative for Florence. Trains and buses connect Pisa airport with Florence Santa Maria Novella, making it a workable second choice when FLR routings are expensive or indirect.
- T2 tram
- Florence's airport tram line, connecting Florence Peretola airport with Santa Maria Novella station. For Castanea Expo attendees it is the standard low-cost airport leg, followed by a walk or a short city ride to Fortezza da Basso.
- T1 tram
- Florence's first light rail line, running through the western side of the centre with stops used for the Fortezza and Stazione Fortezza Fiera area. Check the current stop names on the ATAF network map before relying on it for a fixed arrival time.
- ATAF urban ticket
- The ticket covering Florence city buses and trams. Buy before boarding from ticket machines, tabacchi or app channels; validate on board. Fares are low single-digit euro amounts, and airport tram tickets are priced separately from the urban ticket.
- Schengen 90/180 rule
- Short-stay visitors to Italy can generally spend at most 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the whole Schengen area. Time spent in France, Spain, Germany or any other Schengen state counts toward the same allowance, so plan December 2026 travel against your full recent history.
- Registration fee (EUR 250)
- The published general registration price for the event is EUR 250 per person and is described as including insurance coverage. Confirm current inclusions, refund terms and any exhibitor or speaker rates directly with the organiser before paying.
- Schengen C visa
- The short-stay visa used for business visits, fairs and conferences of up to 90 days. Applications are lodged with the Italian consulate or visa centre covering your place of residence, and the event registration confirmation is commonly requested as supporting evidence.
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Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
- Castanea Expo 2026
- Italian agriculture events
- Castanea Expo Florence 2026
- Florence Italy
- Agriculture and Horticulture Florence 2026
- Food & Beverage
- Sustainability
- Chestnut-based food products
Digital business cards for the show floor
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.