Chianti all year round: events and traditions with history and folklore

Spring in Chianti is not only an explosion of colors and scents but it is also the time when the area comes alive with traditional celebrations.


At Easter, the Explosion of the Cart comes to life at Greve in Chianti, where the main square becomes a theater for the flight of the “colombina” (a rocket shaped like a dove). This ancient rural custom, also celebrated in Florence, takes place in front of the Church of Santa Croce. The tradition is repeated the following Tuesday in Panzano, where the cart is again the protagonist, amid fireworks and applause.

The month of March ends with a dive into the past, thanks to the Medieval Carnival of San Casciano Val di Pesa. The village is transformed into a lively medieval village with jugglers, musicians, street markets and the spectacular Joust of the Contradas, in which the contrade (districts) of Cavallo, Leone, Giglio, Gallo and Torre compete to win the "key to the village”.

On April 25, as well as being Liberation Day, Panzano celebrates the Festa della Stagion Bona: a historical reenactment commemorating the ancient medieval feud between the Gherardini and Firidolfi families. Costumed extras, symbolic sentences, a lively market of typical products, historical memory and convivial spirit all come together here.

At San Donato in Poggio, in the municipality of Barberino Tavarnelle, the ancient folk tradition of the Tuscan farce, il bruscello, is re-enacted. Sestets, quatrains, ottava rima: the whole village participates in the Bruscellata held in late June and early July. There is no shortage of stands and costume parades. 
 
Then, during the first week of September, it is time for Passato e Presente in Montaperti, in the municipality of Castelnuovo Berardenga. The event celebrates the famous Battle of Montaperti between the Guelphs and Ghibellines in 1261, narrated by Dante in The Divine Comedy. The most captivating moment? The community dinner and the night-time torchlight procession to the memorial stone. Also in Castelnuovo Berardenga, in early September, the village of San Gusmè hosts the hilarious and irreverent Luca Cava Festival, dedicated to the curious figure of the village's symbolic character, celebrated by a sculpture at the entrance to the village. The program features shows, art, live music, excursions and tastings. Not to be missed is the Palio delle Botti, a challenge between the contrade districts as they roll large barrels along the cobblestone streets.
 
 
During the first few days of September, Barberino Tavarnelle also honors the past with Memoriae et Historiae di Semifonte, a medieval festival commemorating the destruction of the ancient fortified town of Semifonte, which was destroyed by the Florentine Republic in the 13th century. Costume parades, historical encampments and shows allow you to relive the atmosphere of those distant times.
 
 
Lastly, Castellina in Chianti honors St. Faustus Martyr, the village's patron saint, with a celebration that dates all the way back to 1661. In the procession, the Baroque urn containing the saint's remains moves through the village streets, with moments of devotion and popular participation, music, events and fireworks.

Winter in Chianti is the season of rest, but there is no shortage of events linked to local traditions.  
In Radda in Chianti, St. Nicholas, the village's patron saint, is celebrated on December 6, with a festival that also symbolically marks the beginning of the Christmas season. The Church of Propositura, with its elegant neo-Gothic façade in the main square, is the spiritual heart of the event. This is where the community gathers, with church services, lighting and initiatives dedicated to children.

Then, in Barberino Tavarnelle, the first Sunday after December 13 is the day of the Santa Lucia Fair: the celebration is particularly heartfelt in Tavarnelle, with the traditional procession of the Magi through the village streets and the stalls in Piazza Matteotti, where local products, handicrafts, gifts, Christmas decorations and sweets can be purchased.

Following the thread of tradition is definitely a different way to discover Chianti. If, on the other hand, you love its wines and typical products, don't miss the events that celebrate food and wine. 

Lastly, if you are a sport lover, there are also plenty of events and activities to enjoy throughout the year.