the ancient tradition not to be missed
In Florence they call it the Carro Matto. “Because when the Bacchus Artisan parades everyone is amazed to see this magnificent cart, pulled by oxen, with many flasks of wine stuffed by and Rufina’s volunteers that crosses the historic center of the city”: this is how the president of Calcio Storico Fiorentino and special adviser for Popular Traditions Michele Pierguidi tells of this that so much ignites the curiosity of tourists and curiosity. The appointment is Saturday 1 October in the center.
The offer of the wine of the countryside to the Signoria of Florence is the highlight of four days of events and initiatives that Rufina organizes to celebrate the wine and typical products of the territory. Il Bacco Artigiano, an event now in its 47th edition, takes place from Thursday 29 September to Sunday 2 October.
The 2022 edition of Bacchus kicks off at Villa Poggio Reale on Thursday 29 September at 5.30 pm. “After Covid, we are back to normal with the most important festival in the Municipality of Rufina and in the entire Val di Sieve – comments the mayor of Rufina Vito Maida -. This edition involves local associations and all producers of the Chianti Rufina Consortium “.
Bacco Artigiano: all the information on the event
Bacchus artisan the program and history
Saturday 1 October in Florence the re-enactment of the “Offer of the wine of the countryside to the Signoria of Florence”. The ritual in use at the time of the Florentine Republic to celebrate the arrival of wine from the Florence countryside. As usual, the Carro Matto parades, the cart loaded with the long of wine flasks, arranged in a pyramid, pulled by the typical Chianina cattle.
The appointment is at 3.30 pm in Piazza Duomo, from where the Carro Matto, the procession of the Florentine Republic and the Historical Procession of Wine and the Contado di Rufina move through the streets of the historic center. The re-enactment, directed by Filippo Giovannelli, first sees the blessing of the wine by the religious authorities, then the offering of the wine cruet to the Church of San Carlo dei Lombardi and finally the offering of the blessed wine of the Carro Matto to the Signoria of Florence in Piazza Duomo.
“In Florence – continues Michele Pierguidi – the Bacchus Artisan is one of the most loved events by the procession of the Florentine Republic which will also be present at the Rufina. Collaborating with Rufina’s administration is always a pleasure and an honor for us “.
The history of this event goes back a long way. “On the Arengario of Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria, the Mayor of the Rufina community offered the city of Florence the Chianti wine together with the keys of the“ County of Turicchi ”. A traditional cart surmounted by a pyramid of 1500 flasks full of Chianti, pulled by the typical Chianina “bovi”, historically portrayed in the most beautiful historical photos of the Alinari brothers ”explain the organizers.
The Carro Matto is an excellent example of the skill of the winemakers of the Val di Sieve now gathered in the Committee for the Carro Matto of Rufina. “The flasks, typical pot-bellied glass containers covered with straw, are stacked in a pyramid and intertwined with straw and natural ligaments in order to contain each other” they say again. In this way, large quantities of wine can be transported from the country to the city.
Sunday 2 October the grand finale between historical re-enactment (5 pm) and parade of the historical procession of the Florentine Republic, historical procession of wine and the countryside of Rufina and the fireworks display that will close an edition of the Bacchus full of events and initiatives.