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Bravio delle botti
An annual barrel rolling race in Montepulciano that replaces a medieval horse race.
The Bravio delle botti is an annual race held in Montepulciano, Italy. Teams representing local districts roll heavy wine barrels through narrow streets to win a painted cloth prize.
When is Bravio delle botti kept?
Bravio delle botti is kept on annually in late summer.
This event is a lively competition where runners push large wine barrels through town streets. It serves as a modern replacement for a historic horse race and brings the community together for celebration.
Race details
Teams of two men called spingitori compete to roll an eighty-kilogram barrel. They start at the Colonna del Marzocco and finish at the Piazza Grande. The course covers about eighteen hundred meters and goes uphill most of the way. Narrow streets often cause collisions between teams during the push.
History and origin
The current barrel race began in nineteen seventy-four. It replaced a horserace that started in thirteen seventy-three. The word bravio comes from Latin and means a prize to be won. The winner receives a painted cloth showing the city patron saint.
Districts and colors
Eight districts called contrade send teams to the race. Each district has specific colors. Cagnano uses green and blue. Collazzi wears yellow and green. Le Coste chooses yellow and blue. Gracciano picks green and black. Poggiolo selects white and blue. San Donato wears white and red. Talosa uses yellow and red. Voltaia chooses red and black.
Related festivities
Celebrations happen all week before the main event. Processions move through the streets. Religious blessings are given to the participants. Teams hold practice runs to prepare. Parties take place at each team headquarters. A special race was held in nineteen ninety-three for charity.
How Bravio delle botti is kept
Two runners from each district push a heavy barrel through the town. They start near a column and race to the main square. The path is steep and crowded. Neighbors watch and cheer from the sides. The winning team gets a painted banner.
When and where
The race happens once a year. It usually takes place in August. The date marks the end of the festival week.
The event occurs in Montepulciano, Italy. The route goes through the historic center streets. It ends at the cathedral square.
What Bravio delle botti means
The race honors the city patron saint. The painted cloth represents the district's pride. The competition strengthens local bonds between neighbors.
Who takes part
- spingitori: Runners who push the barrel through the streets
- winning contrada: Receives a painted cloth with the patron saint image
If you are a guest
Guests watch from the narrow streets. They cheer for their favorite district. Some attend parties at team headquarters. Others join processions or religious blessings.
Then and now
The race continues annually. It was cancelled in twenty twenty due to the pandemic. A charity version ran in nineteen ninety-three.
On the wedding table
Questions people ask about Bravio delle botti
When is Bravio delle botti kept?
Bravio delle botti is kept on annually in late summer.
What is the Bravio delle botti?
It is an annual race in Montepulciano where teams roll heavy wine barrels through streets. It replaced a medieval horse race.
Who participates in the race?
Teams of two runners from eight local districts compete. Each district has its own colors and identity.
See also
Weddings in ancient RomeThe religious ceremonies and attire that marked a union in the city of Rome before the rise of Christianity.Fescennine VersesBawdy wedding songs from Ancient Rome that evolved into satire and comic drama.
DirndlThe bodice, skirt and apron dress worn by brides in the German-speaking Alps.
Macchina di Santa RosaThe annual procession in Viterbo where men carry a towering structure to honor their patron saint.Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Bravio delle botti", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryShaadi rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Wedding customs differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.
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