Barrel Rolling Contest Il Palio delle Botti di Montepulciano 2025

When: Sunday, August 31, 2025
Image by Nautical Voyager from Pixabay
Image by Nautical Voyager from Pixabay

Barrel Rolling Contest Il Palio delle Botti di Montepulciano
Once a Year, on the last Sunday of August, a traditional barrel rolling race is held (Il Palio delle Botti di Montepulciano). The race takes place in Montepulciano which is located in Siena region in Tuscany.

This unique race started in the 13th century as a riding contest in which the horses galloped up the hill, in a steep course of 1,800 meters, through the main road of the town to the Grande Piazza. In the 17th century the contests stopped but on 1974 it renewed in a different way. The participants roll 80 kg barrels up the hill.

Delegates of the eight neighborhoods of the town participate in the contest. The winner gets the traditional prize – a colored cloth known by the name Palio. Due to the numerous visitors during the festival days and the high demand for tickets and accommodations it is recommended to check hotel rates and book rooms well in advance.

This event attracts thousands of locals and tourists who encourage the participants.

For accommodations, check the most recommended hotels in Montepulciano and around, most of them suggest FREE CANCELLATION option or NO PREPAYMENT NEEDED – PAY AT THE PROPERTY:
Accommodations around Montepulciano:
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IMPORTANT !
As unforeseen circumstances can arise, the details of events are subject to change. We highly recommend checking with the organizers before making any travel arrangements to ensure up-to-date information.

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