Infiorata di Fucecchio - Foto Pro-Loco Fucecchio

The Empolese Valdelsa and Montalbano area traditions

The Empolese Valdelsa and Montalbano territory offers a large series of traditional events, related to both episodes of local history and activities that have always distinguished this area and which have guaranteed the sustenance of the people who lived there.

Let's see in detail the most interesting events that follow one another throughout the year:

Taking place in Fucecchio, in the month of May, is the Palio: a horse race which involves the 12 quarters of the town. This tradition, dating back as far as 1200, is deeply felt by the Fucecchio inhabitants.

On the occasion of the Corpus Domini celebration, in the month of June, you can attend two traditional festivals: the Infiorata in Fucecchio and the Volo del Ciuco in Empoli. The famous Infiorata in Fucecchio belongs to a quite common tradition, especially in central Italy, and ingages dozens of volunteers who, from the previous day, skilfully decorate the streets of the old town with thousands of variously-hued flower petals and plant elements, in order to compose inventive religious-themed arrangements.
Different is the origin of the very peculiar Volo del Ciuco, taking place in Empoli on the historic Piazza Farinata degli Uberti, and which was born to remember the clever trick that was used in the 14th century by the Empoli troops to conquer the San Miniato al Tedesco castle, considered impregnable at that time. Naturally, it is not a real-life donkey, only a puppet!
Also taking place in June is the renowned Ceramics Festival in Montelupo, an important artisanal and artistic centre for the manufacturing of ceramics for many centuries: an occasion to discover the latest art trends or visit the precious Museo della Ceramica, all of this enhanced by a large programme of side events.
June in Montespertoli, a wine growing town, means Wine Festival; in addition to the fair of local producers, there are staged costumed reenactments of the rural life of the time, as it happens in July with the reenactment of the "battitura a fermo", an ancient grain threshing technique which also acted as a moment of conviviality among peasants.

A plunge into past events is offered in July in Cerreto Guidi with the Night of Isabella, recalling the arrival to the local villa of Isabella, daughter of Cosimo I de'Medici, who married Paolo Giordano Orsini. Or in Vinci with the Flight of Cecco Santi, a Vinci soldier who, besides being spared from execution for falling in love with a noblewoman of an enemy town, was also held responsible for a particularly bountiful harvest, and is therefore remembered every year with a historical parade.

Between July and September Capraia e Limite is enlivened by the Palio di San Lorenzo and the Palio con la Montata races: both take place on the stretch of the Arno river which runs through the town and star the traditional local boats, called "gozzi".

Even in Gambassi Terme the four districts compete in various skill tests during the local Palio delle Contrade, which takes place in the month of August and ends with the colourful "corsa delle bigonce" race.

Santa Liberata, Cerreto Guidi's patron saint, is celebrated on the first Sunday of September with the traditional Palio del Cerro: even in this case the four town districts go through a series of challenges, competing for the "palio" prize which is made by a different artist every year.

The Festival della Via Francigena ends the programme of events; taking place in October in Castelnuovo d'Elsa, a hamlet of Castelfiorentino located along the ancient pilgrim road, it stages historical reenactments paired with excursions and side events.

 

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Capraia e Limite  Castelfiorentino  Cerreto Guidi  Empoli  Fucecchio  Gambassi Terme  Montelupo Fiorentino  Montespertoli  Vinci