Bravio delle Botti 2024 in Tuscany

A fun wine barrel race in a picturesque old town of Montepulciano

Dates: August 25, 2024

Montepulciano is known for its excellent red wine. Wooden wine barrels are also used in an annual event that takes place on the last Sunday of August. Different neighbourhoods (contrade) challenge each other during the race for Bravio—a colourful banner with the city's patron.

The race is not a simple one though. Heavy barrels, 80 kilos each, are pushed by two strong men for about two kilometres, while the residents of the town and visitors cheer for their favourite teams.

Bravio delle Botti Program

The Bravio delle Botti starts in Piazza Grande at 10:00 am with the extraction of the starting positions. At 12:00 in the Cathedral of Montepulciano, there will be a candlelight vigil to St. John the Beheaded, the patron saint of the city.

Leaving the Marzocco Column at 3 pm, the procession will march through the streets of the city to reach Piazza Grande. The race will start from the Marzocco Column at 7 pm, and the winning district will receive the cloth about ten minutes later.