Bacco Artigiano

Bacco Artigiano, the soul of Chianti Rufina

Bacco Artigiano is the most significant and iconic festival of the Municipality of Rufina, a village in the Valdisieve valley near Florence, in Tuscany. Established in 1976, the event celebrates the excellence of Chianti Rufina DOCG—one of the smallest and most prestigious sub-zones of the Chianti region—along with the entire culinary and artisanal culture of the area every year in late September. For four days, Rufina transforms into a grand open-air stage featuring tastings, music, exhibitions, and folk traditions.

The Carro Matto, symbol of the festival

The heart of Bacco Artigiano is the spectacular Carro Matto parade, an ancient agricultural wagon pulled by powerful Chianina oxen and loaded with approximately 1,500 flasks of Chianti Rufina, expertly stacked in a pyramid. The procession departs from Rufina and reaches the historic center of Florence, parading through Via Calzaiuoli to Piazza del Duomo, accompanied by participants in Renaissance costumes, flag-wavers, and the Procession of the Florentine Republic. The tradition commemorates the ancient bond between the countryside of the Valdisieve and the city of Florence, to which wine was offered as a tribute.

Four days of events in Rufina

The festivities revolve around the two iconic locations of the event: Piazza Umberto I, the beating heart of the town, and the evocative Villa di Poggio Reale, home to the wine shop and the Museum of Vine and Wine. Recurring highlights include:

• Guided tastings of wines from the Chianti Rufina Consortium, wine bars with tasting cards, and an enoteca;
• Concerts and live performances in the squares, featuring local bands and musical guests;
• Themed lunches and dinners, a restaurant under the marquee, and local street food;
• Exhibitions and displays, from the Mario Romoli Museum to painting exhibitions like "Tele di Bacco" and displays of antique agricultural machinery;
• Historical re-enactments, costume processions, and matches of historic Florentine football played by veterans.

A territory to experience

Organized by the Municipality of Rufina in collaboration with the Chianti Rufina Consortium, the Valdarno and Valdisieve Union of Municipalities, and the Metropolitan City of Florence, Bacco Artigiano is much more than a wine festival: it is the story of an entire community showcasing its rural and Renaissance identity. For visitors, it is the perfect opportunity to discover the rolling hills of the Valdisieve, the wineries of Chianti Rufina, and the hospitality of an authentic corner of Tuscany, just a few kilometers from Florence.