Festival of the Most Holy Crucifix, the 48th Cart race and the Festival of the Vin Santo and Ciambello Valiano

Festival of the Most Holy Crucifix, the 48^th Cart race and the Festival of the Vin Santo and Ciambello
Valiano, 24^th and 25^th September – 7^th, 8^th and 9^th October

In Valiano, a village a few kilometres from Montepulciano, a traditional event returns with the Festival of the Most Holy Crucifix, the 48^th Cart race and the Festival of the Vin Santo and Ciambello [Wine biscuits]. Here is the program:

Saturday, 24^th September
at 4:00 p.m., the opening of the Festival of the Vin Santo and Ciambello; “the race as depicted by the children”: a few children will draw their interpretation of the race. This will be followed by a Nutella-party.
At 9:00 p.m., the traditional historical parade will take place with offerings of candles to the Most Holy Crucifix by the different Contrade [districts] taking part.
At 10:00 p.m., the flag bearers and drummers of Montepulciano will put on a show.
At 10:30 p.m., presentation and blessing of the 2022 cloth prize.

Sunday, 25^th September
at 11:30 a.m., Holy Mass in honour of the Most Holy Crucifix of Valiano, celebrated by S.E., the Cardinal Bishop. Celebration of Confirmation with the district participants.

The festivities and the ceremony of the Palio dei Carretti [cart race] continue on the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th of October. The actual cart race will take place on the 9^th of October.

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