Il Bravìo delle Botti of Montepulciano

Il “Bravìo delle Botti” is a competition between the eight districts of the town: Cagnano, Collazzi, Le Coste, Gracciano, Poggiolo, San Donato, Talosa and Voltaia, located along the historical city centre. The districts fight over a painted cloth – namely “Il Panno” – by rolling empty wine barrels, weighing about 80 kg each, along an uphill path for over one kilometer. The barrels are pushed by two athletes known as “pushers”, while the route of the race unfolds along the picturesque streets of Montepulciano’s historical city centre, ending in the main Cathedral square “Piazza Grande”.