Every year in January, the seven historic districts of Buti (a commune in the province of Pisa, located in the region of Tuscany), have a Palio where horses compete, galloping through the town streets. This happens on the the first Sunday of January after the Feast Day of Sant’Antonio Abate (January 17).
Alongside the Palio di Siena, the Palio di Buti is one of Tuscany’s longest-running horse races. Dating back to the 17th century.
It all begins with a historical parade and competition, in which village contrade (neighborhoods) stage their own traditional performances. The horse race itself runs along the village streets. While traditional Palio routes tend to be circular, this race runs in an S-shape. The day of the Palio begins with a “Holy Mass of Horses” followed by a traditional tripe- and wine-based breakfast in the neighborhoods of the town. Midway through the morning, all of the districts parade through the town, reaching the church porch of the Cathedral, where the horses who will run in the Palio are given a blessing. Around 2pm the races begin, and are carried out on a slightly uphill route that’s about 700 meters long. The race has three distinct segments called “batterie” – individual races in which the horses from the seven “contrade” (historic districts) compete divided in groups. The three winners will advance to the final.
What awaits the winner at the end of the 700m track is a cencio, a cloth painted by famous artists — and celebrations that last all night. While traveling to Italy in January can be chilly, we think this would be an amazing and worthwhile event to experience watching!
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