Bravio delle botti

The race course

The competition pits eight local contrade against each other over an arduous climb of nearly 1,800 metres. Starting at the Colonna del Marzocco, two runners known as spingitori maneuver an 80-kilogram wine barrel toward the finish line at Piazza Grande. Because the streets of the historic centre are narrow and the heavy barrels are cumbersome to guide, athletes frequently collide with each other along the ascending route.

Districts and colours

Each district competes under its own traditional banner and paired colours. Cagnano wears green and blue, Collazzi takes yellow and green, Le Coste runs in yellow and blue, and Gracciano wears green and black. Poggiolo is represented by white and blue, San Donato by white and red, Talosa by yellow and red, and Voltaia by red and black. The grand prize is the bravio, a painted cloth standard featuring the image of the city's patron saint.

History and festival week

The modern barrel race began in 1974, replacing an earlier horse race that had been established in 1373. Its name comes from the Latin bravium, meaning a prize to be won. The main competition serves as the peak of a wider festival week across Montepulciano. Throughout these days, the community holds religious blessings, practice runs, civic processions, and neighbourhood parties hosted at the headquarters of each district team.

How Bravio delle botti is kept

During the festival week, the eight contrade hold practice runs, stage processions, and host parties at their team headquarters alongside religious blessings. On race day, pairs of runners from each neighbourhood gather at the Colonna del Marzocco. At the signal, the pairs roll an 80-kilogram wine barrel through the steep, narrow streets for roughly 1,800 metres. The race finishes at the cathedral square on Piazza Grande, where the fastest team wins the painted cloth banner.

When and where

The contest takes place every year as part of a week-long festival featuring practice runs, religious blessings, and district parties leading up to the race.

The race is held in the Tuscan town of Montepulciano in Italy. Competitors race through the narrow streets of the historic town centre, running from the Colonna del Marzocco up to the Piazza Grande in front of the cathedral.

What Bravio delle botti means

The competition reflects the pride and identity of the eight historic town districts. The prize itself, known as the bravio from the Latin word for a prize to be won, represents community honour and carries a painted likeness of the town's patron saint.

Questions people ask about Bravio delle botti

See also

Combat de ReinesAn annual Swiss pushing contest where Hérens cows compete for herd dominanceGreasy poleA slippery pole climbed, walked or crossed to win a prize at the top or the far endCalcio storico fiorentinoA fierce Renaissance ball game played on sand between four Florentine districtsChristmasA festival of Jesus's birth, kept on 25 December with gifts, lights and shared meals

Good reading and sources

• Bravio delle botti on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions 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 2026-10-07.