Il Bravìo delle Botti of Montepulciano

Every year, in a charming and magical medieval atmosphere, a strenuous uphill race takes place in Montepulciano: a barrel race called “Il Bravìo”.

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”.

"I wish we didn’t go back in time, I wish that what happens in big cities, where people don’t even know their next-door neighbours, didn’t happen to Montepulciano as well"

Marcello Del Balio - founding father of the event

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Bravìo delle Botti 2021

Bravìo delle Botti 2021

The “Bravìo delle Botti” is back The “Magistrato delle Contrade”, together with the “Comune di Montepulciano”, developed the program of ...

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