The last Sunday in August, Montepulciano hosts the traditional "Bravìo delle Botti", a reenactment of a challenge between the eight districts of the town, which previously was competed with horses, and today is competed with the barrels. The barrels, weighing about 80 kg each, are pushed and rolled by two athletes, called spingitori , for each district, along the uphill path of about 1800 meters that winds through the picturesque streets of the historical center of Montepulciano, until the arrival at the square of the Cathedral in Piazza Grande. The race is traditionally preceded by a nice and fascinating historical procession consisting of more than three hundred figures that moves along the same route, offering games of flag and images of past times. The 2025 edition will take place from the 22th to the 31st of August in Montepulciano. 
 

Program

Friday, August 22
7:00 PM | PIAZZA GRANDE
Cantine in Piazza – In collaboration with the Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Saturday, August 23 – Gonfaloniere’s Show
9:00 PM | COLONNA DEL MARZOCCO
Departure of the Historical Parade
9:30 PM | PIAZZA GRANDE
Proclamation of the Gonfaloniere – Performance by the Flag Throwers and Drummers Group and the show "Virtù Kavalleresche" by Kronos Acrobatic Theater
Single ticket for bleachers and stalls: €10
Free entry for children under 6 years old
Contrade open

Sunday, August 24 – Presentation of the Banner
3:30 PM | CLOISTER OF THE MEDICEAN FORTRESS
Award ceremony for the contest "A tavola con il Nobile", in collaboration with the Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
4:00 PM | COLONNA DEL MARZOCCO
Departure of the Historical Parade with the Flag Throwers and Drummers Group
5:00 PM | PIAZZA GRANDE
Presentation of the Banner, performance by the junior flag throwers and drummers and by the official Flag Throwers and Drummers Group
9:00 PM | HISTORIC CENTER
Practice runs of the pushers along the race route
Contrade open

August 25–26–27–29
9:00 PM | HISTORIC CENTER
Practice runs of the pushers along the race route
Contrade open

Thursday, August 28 – Candlelight Parade
9:00 PM | HISTORIC CENTER
Candlelight Parade – Reenactment of the historic parade of candles through the torch-lit streets
10:00 PM | PIAZZA GRANDE
Offering of the candles in honor of the patron Saint John the Beheaded, with original music; performance by the Flag Throwers and Drummers Group; show produced by the Magistrato delle Contrade, H. W. Henze Music Institute, and GST
Single ticket for bleachers and stalls: €15
Free entry for children under 6 years old
Contrade open

Saturday, August 30
Contrade open

Sunday, August 31 – The Race
9:30 AM | PIAZZA GRANDE
Drawing of the starting order of the contrade with the parades and performances by the flag throwers and drummers quartets; branding of the barrels
12:00 PM | CHURCH OF SS. NOME DI GESÙ
Solemn Mass attended by authorities, contradaioli, and offering of candles to Saint John the Beheaded
3:30 PM | COLONNA DEL MARZOCCO
Departure of the Historical Parade
6:30 PM | COLONNA DEL MARZOCCO
Bravìo delle Botti | Start of the race
Admission fee to the Historic Center from 2:30 PM to 7:00 PM: €3.50
Free entry for children under 6 years old

Additional info

More information on www.braviodellebotti.com. / info@braviodellebotti.com