48th Palio dei Carretti [Cart race], Festival of Vin Santo and Ciambello

On 7th, 8th and 9th October, the Cart race of Valiano, a hamlet just a few kilometres from Montepulciano, will be in the midst of celebrations. The actual race takes place in the afternoon of the 9th of October: it consists of a challenge between the contrade [districts], which compete for victory in a daring race on wooden carts along the descent leading to the Valiano bridge. Here is the three-day programme:

Friday 7th October
– 9:00 p.m. – Opening of the Festival of Vin Santo and Ciambello
– 9:00 p.m. – Public weighing of the carts
– 9:30 p.m. – District folk games
Saturday 8th October
– 8:00 p.m. – Wine, taverns and desserts. Itinerant dinner in the taverns of the Valiano Castle, with tasting of typical dishes and wine.
– 9:00 p.m. – Musical entertainment
Sunday 9th October
– 11:00 a.m. – Holy Mass of the contrade
– 12:00 noon – Blessing of the carts and draw for the different heats
– 3:00 p.m. – Traditional historical district parade with the participation of the flag-bearers and drummers of Montepulciano
– at 4:30 p.m. – The 48th Cart race begins
– at 6:30 p.m. – Prize giving for the winning district
– at 8:00 p.m. – Farewell dinner at the Circolo Arci di Valiano