Bravio delle botti

The “Bravìo delle Botti” takes place in the well known town of Montepulciano at the end of August. The word "Bravìo" derives from the vernacular language "Bravium" and is awarded to the winning Contrada, in the form of the Panno, a beautifully painted banner bearing the image of the Patron Saint of the town, San Giovanni Decollato, in honour of whom the Bravìo delle Botti takes place. The event is linked to a chapter of local history dating back to 1372.
The recent history of the Bravìo began in 1974. The challenge is between the eight wards of Montepulciano who compete for a painted cloth banner by rolling barrels which weight 85 kilos in an uphill race lasting around 1650 metres along the main street of the town. The barrels are rolled by two athletes called "Spingitori" and the course of the race winds through the streets of the town.