Bruscello Poliziano

A folk tradition in the heart of Montepulciano

The Bruscello Poliziano is one of the most deeply rooted folk theater traditions in Tuscany and the quintessential summer event in the town of Montepulciano, in the province of Siena. Every year, around Ferragosto, the performance takes place on the scenic Cathedral steps in Piazza Grande, the city's Renaissance living room. Here, under the sky of the Sienese Valdichiana, the town's inhabitants bring to life a collective performance that is both a civic celebration and a community ritual.

What is the Bruscello?

The term bruscello derives from "arboscello" (sapling) and refers to an ancient, typically Tuscan form of folk and peasant theater, performed and sung by non-professional actors. In Montepulciano, this tradition has been firmly established since 1939, creating an unbroken history of performances. The dramaturgy blends tragic and farcical elements, drawing from daily life, folklore, history, and great literature.

The 'bruscellanti' and the Popular Company

The soul of the event lies in the bruscellanti: local actors, singers, and musicians who, united in the Compagnia Popolare del Bruscello di Montepulciano, self-produce a new production every year. Rehearsals begin months in advance, in the heart of winter, and involve several generations of local residents, passing down passion, voices, and gestures from year to year. This is not professional theater; it is the creative spontaneity of a community that continues to tell its own story.

The repertoire

Since 1939, the Company has staged dozens of productions, alternating between classic subjects and local legends: Pia de' Tolomei, Romeo and Juliet, Paolo and Francesca, the Dante trilogy, and stories linked to the city of the Medici. Each edition features a new title, written in verse and accompanied by original live music.

The setting and the city

Attending the Bruscello also means discovering Montepulciano, a Renaissance jewel of Tuscany famous for its Vino Nobile. The natural backdrop of the Cathedral and the palaces of Piazza Grande, the evening lights, and the warmth of the local audience make every evening an authentically Tuscan experience, far from the most conventional tourist circuits.