Bravio delle Botti 2024 in Montepulciano

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In the splendid setting of Montepulciano on the last Sunday of August the challenge between the eight districts of Poliziane takes place: Il Bravìo delle Botti.
The culmination and protagonist of the historical re-enactment is the race with barrels, which sees the pairs of pushers of the eight districts of Poliziane engaged in the conquest of the prize, a painted cloth, in the vernacular called “bravium”.
The pushers of the eight districts of Poliziane, Gracciano, Poggiolo, Collazzi, Cagnano, Le Coste, Voltaia, Talosa, San Donato, push the barrels, weighing about 80 kg each, along the uphill path of about 1800 meters that winds through the suggestive streets of the historic center of the city of Poliziana until the arrival located in the churchyard of the Cathedral in Piazza Grande.

The history of the Poliziane districts can be traced back to the end of the fourteenth century, more precisely to 1373, the year in which the Municipal Statute dedicates the entire chapter 30 to the provisions on the Palio, which appears to have been established with this law in honor of the patron saint of Montepulciano, San Giovanni Decollato, “and in perpetual and happy memory of the popular regime”.
TheBravìo with horses was disputed with horses until the seventeenth century, then suppressed for reasons of public order.
The recent history of the “Bravìo” begins in 1974 when a parish priest, Don Marcello Del Balio, had the original idea of transforming the ancient horse race into the barrel race.

Bravio delle Botti 2024 in Montepulciano

The 2024 Bravìo is a highly anticipated Bravìo, because in addition to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the event, born in 1974 from an idea of Don Marcello del Balio, it will retrace the history and tradition of one of the most important events in Tuscany thanks to the shows scheduled by the Magistrate of the Contrade of Montepulciano.

The official program will start on Saturday 17 August at 21:00 from the Marzocco Column with the departure of the Historical Parade, followed at 21:30 in Piazza Grande by the Proclamation of the Gonfaloniere with the show of the Flag-wavers and Drummers Group and the show of the Lux theater company “Phoenix – Fire Show”.

On Sunday, August 18th at 3:30 pm in the Cloister of the Medici Fortress of Montepulciano there will be the award ceremony of the competition “A tavola con il Nobile” made in collaboration with the Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
From 16:00 from the Marzocco Column the Historical Parade will start composed of the Flag-wavers and Drummers Group and the “old glories” of the eight districts and at 17:00 in Piazza Grande the cloth of the Bravìo 2024 will be presented, followed by the performance of the Flag-wavers and Drummers Group of the “old glories” of the Bravìo.
At 21:00 the first evening of free practice of the pushers of the eight districts will take place, and all the kitchens of the districts will be open to welcome citizens, visitors and tourists.

The program then continues on Monday 19 August at 19:00 with the opening of the kitchens of the districts and at 21:00, in the historic center, the second evening of free practice will take place along the race route; Tuesday 20 August continues at 19:00 with the opening of the kitchens of the districts and at 21:00 in the historic center the third evening of free practice will take place along the race route; Wednesday 21 August opening of the kitchens of the districts at 19:00 and at 21:00 in the historic center will take place the fourth evening of free practice.

Thursday, August 22nd appointment with the magical and evocative Evening of the Sacred Candles, the most solemn day of the whole event.
The impressive Historical Parade, made up of the eight districts, will start at 21:00 from the Colonna del Marzocco to arrive in Piazza Grande, around 22:00, in religious silence and illuminated only by candlelight; Square where the ceremony of the offering of the Candles in honor of the patron saint San Giovanni Decollato will take place in the Church of SS Nome del Gesù.
Afterwards, the scene will be all by the Flag-wavers and Drummers Group who with their performance anticipate the self-produced show by the Magistrate of the Districts by Movimento creative Label and Davide Vannuccini.

Last day of free practice on Friday 23 August with the opening of the districts at 19:00 and at 21:00 in the historic center there will be free practice along the race course, the last opportunity for pushers to try the route and prepare for the race on Sunday 25 August.

The week of events will culminate on Sunday 25 August, with the day of the big race.
The long day will begin at 9:30 am in Piazza Grande with the extraction of the starting order of the districts, the performance of the quartets of flag-wavers and drummers and the branding of the barrels.
At 12 noon Holy Mass in the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus in the presence of the authorities and the world of the contradai, with the offering of candles to San Giovanni Decollato.
At 3:30 p.m. departure of the historical procession from the Marzocco Column which will wind through the city streets to Piazza Grande.
At 18:30 it is time for the actual race, with the pairs of pushers from the eight districts who will compete in a 1.8km long race course to win the coveted Panno.