Frate Festival and Colombina Launch

A festival that closes the Buti summer

Every year, on the last weekend of August, the Frate Festival and Colombina Launch brings the village of Vagliaio to life in the municipality of Buti, in the province of Pisa. Organized with passion by the Contrada San Nicolao, one of the town's historic districts, the festival has been the traditional closing event of the long Buti summer season for over forty years. In 2026, we celebrate the 45th edition, a testament to a popular tradition deeply rooted in the community.

The 'frate', the iconic donut of Buti

The absolute star of the festival is the frate, a soft and fragrant fried, sugar-coated donut similar to a 'bombolone', which represents one of the most beloved specialties of Buti's confectionery tradition. The 'frati' are prepared and served hot by the district volunteers, accompanied by other traditional Buti dishes featured on the festival menu.

The traditional cuisine of the Contrada

The evenings are dedicated to the fine food of the Tuscan peasant tradition. Along the streets and small squares of Vagliaio, you can taste local products in a convivial and family-friendly atmosphere. The offerings that animate the Buti festivals always include bruschetta with new oil, grilled meat dishes, soups, and, of course, plenty of 'frati' to end on a sweet note.

• Traditional sweets: 'frati' (fried, sugar-coated donuts)
• Tuscan peasant-style cuisine
• Typical Buti products and outdoor dining
• Local festival atmosphere, managed by the Contrada volunteers

The Colombina Launch

The most anticipated and evocative moment is the Colombina Launch, which closes the festival. It involves a rocket that runs along a wire stretched between the houses of the district: its successful flight is considered by the inhabitants of Vagliaio as a good omen for the upcoming Palio di Buti. It is a popular ritual steeped in symbolism, linking the summer festival to the great winter competition between the districts.

The bond with the Palio di Buti

The Contrada San Nicolao occupies the southwestern part of the historic center, gathered around the small church of the saint. Like the other districts of the town, it participates in the Palio di Buti, the historic horse race held every year on the third Sunday of January: one of the oldest in Italy, alongside the Palio di Siena and the Palio di Asti. The Frate Festival is therefore much more than a gastronomic event: it is an occasion where the district comes together, fosters a spirit of belonging, and ideally prepares for the Palio season.

An authentic appointment in Tuscany

Genuine, popular, and far from mass tourism circuits, the Frate Festival offers those visiting Tuscany and the province of Pisa the chance to discover a living local tradition made of volunteer work, authentic cuisine, and village rituals. A dive into the identity of Buti, amidst the scent of freshly fried 'frati' and the excitement of the Colombina taking flight on a summer evening.