Tuscany is very renowned for her food and wine products which can be enjoyed not only in the restaurants but especially in the typical country festivals. Here, are proposed some very famous and striking ones near the Villa.
This show is organized every year in Christmas period until January 6th by the five contradas of Bettolle. In the roads of the city center and in the contradas’ seats are realized different types of the nativity scene.
During the days of Carnival the four quarters of the village show off through the city roads their own float which will be judged by a jury. An event very involving, cheerful, full of music and entertainment.
From 1966 there is a donkey’s race, every Sunday after St. Joseph day (19th March) in honour of carpenters, profession very important in Torrita di Siena. Palio dei Somari is very interesting because, besides the race, there are lots of events organized by the eight village’s contradas in the previous weeks: medieval banquet, typical tavern where you can eat traditional pasta called “pici” and chianina steak, a contest with “sbandieratori” (flag-bearer) and “tamburini” (drummer) and the wonderful historic procession, all with medieval dresses.
It takes place in the last two May Sundays; there is a parade with lots of floats, all covered with flower. There is also the participation of bands and folkloristic groups.
There is every year on the second June Sunday; it’s a competition with crossbows.
Between last May days and first June days, there is this exhibition dedicated to veal, especially to “chianina” race.
The second June Sunday five village’s contradas try to turn off a fire on the top of a pole and win the desired Palio.
Within wonderful Horti Leonini some challengers divided into the four quarters of San Quirico d’Orcia compete with flags plays and archery competition in honor of Emperor Barbarossa.
It’s a horse race that takes place every year in the third June Sunday, with the three village’s quarter.
Is competed the penultimate Saturday of June during the night; the four quarters of the town take part in the challenge which is an ancient knightly competition and it consists in hitting a target set on the shield of the so-called “Buratto”. There is also a diurnal repeat performance of the Giostra del Saracino the first Sunday of September.
It is a horse race of medieval origin between ten of the seventeen contradas of the city which takes place every year on July 2 and on August 16. During the week before the race it is showed the “Drappellone” (the painted rag which is obtained by the winner contrada) and there are a lot of events like the rehearsal dinner, the "mass" of the jockeys, and the blessing of the horse and jockey. This celebration is very heart-felt, fascinating and every year it attracts thousands of spectators, coming from all around the world.
It’s a country festival that takes place every year between the last week of July and the first week of August; the main dish is the frog, cooked with traditional recipe but there are other typical courses too.
It’s the main culinary event of Cortona’s Summer, that takes place in the gardens of Parterre on the 14th e 15th August, to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption with the traditional Tuscan dishes.
This event is organized every year on the 10th August, to celebrate St. Lawrence night. You can taste different kind of wine from local winemaker.
Every year on the last August Sunday eight contradas face themselves, pushing big barrels in the streets of the historic centre, trying to win the desired award.
On the last week of September it’s possible to eat some traditional dishes with goose and other typical products.
On the third October week-end takes place this event, very striking and perfect to taste new olive oil.
Before and after the December 8th it’s possible to walk in the streets of the historic centre, tasting olive oil and lots of local products.