Palio delle Botti
Appointment that has now become unmissable in Manciano, the Palio delle Botti has, in a few years, captured the interest of many tourists and the hearts of all the inhabitants of Manciano.
The event takes place on the last weekend of August, and is a magic of colours, fun and competition, an opportunity to rejoice and have fun all together, celebrating this delightful Tuscan village and its history made up of ancient traditions.
The prize provides for six teams, one for each district, Borgo, Cassero, Fonti, Monumento, Imposto and Mulinello to push a barrel full of water, weighing 100kg, along a path through the streets of the historic centre.
The Palio delle Botti begins on Friday with the presentation of the teams, male and female and of the painted barrels, one for each district, then we proceed with the assignment of names to the barrels, for each in fact the name of one of the famous bandits will be extracted have made the history of Maremma: Domenichino, Curato, Biondo, Gigione, Basiletto, Cenciarello.
On Saturday afternoon, the Palio dei Bimbi is organized, all the children of the town and not, divided into teams, push their "barrel" a tire and try to bring victory to their team.
Subsequently the food stands are opened and, with the accompaniment of good music, the start of the Trofeo Rosa, or the prize run by the women's teams, is awaited. The course is slightly different from that of the men's prize, in fact the girls will have to make only one lap of the course, one team at a time and the team is made up of 6 elements instead of 8, the best time counts, the two best teams will face each other in final, the first to reach the end of the path, will win the prize!
Sunday is instead the day of the men's Palio, it starts at 17.00 with the procession through the streets of the town, in which all the teams, male and female, the godmothers and godfathers of each team, the council of each district and all the citizens of Manciano, the procession arrives in Piazza Garibaldi and here the musical entertainment begins, interrupted by the draw for the teams that will have to face each other, the first round will see three races, to face each other in each race, two districts at a time, the winners of each race and one of the teams drawn will face each other in the semi-final and then in the final, the winner will be awarded the coveted painted prize.
We all celebrate the end of the Palio together with sandwiches, drinks and lots of music!
