
The Bravio delle Botti, which takes place on the last Sunday in August, is a barrel rolling race between the eight contradas (divisions) of Montepulciano competing for a palio, a painted cloth banner. The barrels (which weigh 80 kilos) have to be rolled up about 1800 meters along the main street of the town of Montepulciano to end in the Piazza Grande in from of the cathedral. Costume processions precede the competition and a street banquet follows.
