Cedro Festival - Rionale delle Botti Palio

The Cedro Festival in Bibbona

The Cedro Festival is the most characteristic event in Bibbona, an ancient medieval village in the province of Livorno, Tuscany. Held every year on Easter Monday, it transforms the historic center—with its narrow alleys, stairways, and arches—into a stage for popular traditions, local flavors, and family-friendly entertainment.

The tradition of the cedro

The heart of the festival is the cedro (citron), a citrus fruit linked to an ancient local custom. According to tradition, the fruit was a pledge that the Bishop of Volterra required from young couples in the village as a sign of devotion. This memory inspired the sprawling market that winds through the town center, offering artistic crafts, typical Maremma products, and, of course, the citron, which is also the star of the famous Tombola del Cedro.

The Rionale delle Botti Palio

The highlight of the evening is the Rionale delle Botti Palio, a challenge between the districts of Bibbona where representatives compete for victory by rolling heavy barrels along the streets of the historic center. The race is preceded by an evocative historical costume pageant and enhanced by the performance of the flag-wavers from Suvereto, whose flags and drums transport the audience back to the village's medieval atmosphere.

A day of taste and folklore

The festival opens in the morning with a photography exhibition at the Old Town Hall and an Easter Monday trek around the village. Throughout the day, there are canine demonstrations, street food in Piazza della Vittoria, live street band music, and numerous activities for children, including games and entertainment. Craft stalls, promotional stands, and volunteer groups complete a program designed to revive the identity and traditions of the Bibbona community.

Bibbona and the Etruscan Coast

Nestled between the hills of the Val di Cecina and the Etruscan Coast, Bibbona is a village with ancient origins, having been a free commune under the Republic of Pisa until 1406. The Cedro Festival is the perfect opportunity to discover this authentic corner of the Livorno Maremma, where history, landscape, and conviviality merge into a single day of celebration.