The municipality of Sant’Alfio recently donated a shoot of the famous Cento Cavalli chestnut to the municipality of Trento. This vegetal monument, whose age is estimated at 4,000 years, has been protected by UNESCO since 2006 as an ambassador of peace. The initiative was possible thanks to the commitment of Fulvio Viesi, member of the Guinness Club 92 of Trento and president of the Castione Brentonico chestnut protection association. Two years ago, Viesi performed surgery on the Cento Cavalli chestnut, which allowed the vegetal giant to regain strength. Last year, the tree produced 500 kilograms of chestnuts, a sign of its recovery. In recognition of his contribution, the municipal administration of Sant’Alfio awarded Viesi honorary citizenship. In the coming years, the project envisages the involvement of other prestigious locations, such as the Vatican Gardens, Jerusalem, Assisi, La Campana dei Caduti and Borgo Rondine, thanks to the establishment of a promoting committee.
The mayor of Sant’Alfio, Alfio La Spina, personally delivered the chestnut tree to the mayor of Trento, Franco Ianeselli. The ceremony was celebrated with a special postcard, dedicated to the Feste Vigiliane and the Chestnut Tree of One Hundred Horses event, with a postmark granted by Poste Italiane. The meeting at Palazzo Trentini was also an opportunity to discuss the reality of Catania and compare the autonomy of Trentino with that of Sicily. The mayor of Sant’Alfio emphasized the great agricultural potential of his municipality and the quality of its products. However, he highlighted that to further develop the sector it would be necessary to adopt a cooperative model similar to that of Trentino, not easy to implement in Sicily, but with signs of positive change.
