Montepulciano: 'Bravio delle Botti' Staff Writer – August 29, 2011
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Competitors pushed wine casks along the medieval streets of Montepulciano, in Tuscany, Italy, on Sunday, August 28, 2011, which concluded the 8-day-long program of the local festival known as the Bravio delle Botti (Barrel Competition.)
The contrade of Montepulciano
The one-of-a-kind race is the high point and the closing event of the yearly traditional festival. In this small medieval town, homeland of the widely appreciated Nobile (Noble) and Rosso (Red) di Montepulciano DOCG and DOC wines, the teams of two spingitori (men who push the barrels) representing the eight contrade (districts) of Montepulciano, face off yearly in the historical Bravio delle Botti race, rolling barrels along the narrow, stone-paved, uphill streets of the centro storico (historic center.)
Giacomo Valentini 'Indiano' and Pierangelo Bondi 'Divino', who represented the Gracciano district team, this year won the competition for the district for the second year in a row. This is the seventh victory for Gracciano, which brings the rione up to seven victories overall and to the third place for number of successes, even with the San Donato district.
The 2010 Bravio delle Botti
The race brought the week long festivities to honor the patron saint of the town, San Giovanni Decollato, to an end.
The winning rione is given the special Panno (Cloth), which is displayed from then on at the headquarters of the district team. This year the Panno was dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Italy was been created by the painter Gino Filippeschi.
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