Bravìo delle botti of Montepulciano

A medieval show celebrating the Vino Nobile

The Bravìo delle Botti takes place every year on the last Sunday in August, in the Citadel of Montepulciano in honour of the Patron Saint San Giovanni Decollato. It is a daunting challenge of the eight districts of Montepulciano: Cagnano, Collazzi, Le Coste, Gracciano, Poggiolo, San Donato, Talosa and Voltaia who aim to win the cloth, called the Bravìo, with painted the patron.

Bravìo already existed in the 14th century, was originally a horse race; the tradition had been suspended on grounds of public policy to make its appearance again in 1974. The modern lure the barrels is a tribute to the most famous of this territory typicality: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, wine Ageing in casks memo.

All the "week of events" that precedes the Bravìo eventful is striking as the Proclamation of the Gonfaloniere, Chief historian of the city and the Procession of candles, a medieval reenactment at nighttime. Until the last Sunday in August in which the atmosphere warms, the barrels are ready and the pushers of casks flutter together with its inhabitants.

The race, anticipated by the extraction of the starting order of the barrels, the branding and flaunted, starts at 19 with the stroke of the chimes of the bell of the Town Hall. The casks are starting to slip through the city streets, not pausing ever, the pushers face arduously various climbs in front until arriving to the conclusion on the Parvis of the Cathedral on the Piazza Grande. The event concludes in late night with big celebrations of victorious.

 

Photo Credits [Facebook: Bravio delle Botti]