Palio delle Contrade of Buti

The first palio of the year in Italy

The Palio delle Contrade of Buti is one of the most deeply felt folk events in Tuscany and marks the start of the Italian palio calendar every year. It takes place in Buti, a small village in the Province of Pisa nestled between the slopes of Monte Serra and the Arno valley, on the Sunday following the feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot (January 17th), the patron saint of animals. On that day, the entire town rallies around its horses and colors, creating a race that blends devotion, local rivalry, and pure adrenaline.

A tradition dating back to the 17th century

The roots of the festival go back to the 17th century, when the stables and horses of the village were blessed on January 17th, the day dedicated to Saint Anthony the Abbot. Parish records tell of festivals and races organized year after year, with interruptions only during the two world wars. The first written evidence of a race with high-quality horses, jockeys, and a prize for the winner dates back to the mid-19th century, while the Palio in its modern form was born in 1961. Today, Buti proudly claims a place among the oldest palios in Italy, alongside those of Siena and Asti.

The seven districts

The village is divided into seven districts (contrade), each with its own colors, headquarters, and history:

• Pievania — blue with a white cross
• San Francesco — yellow and black
• San Nicolao — white and black
• San Rocco — white and red
• Ascensione — green and black
• Case La Croce — red and black
• San Michele — red and green

How the race works

The heart of the event is the horse race held along the main access road to the village, a narrow and technical track that makes the competition as spectacular as it is risky. The jockeys compete in three qualifying heats followed by the final that awards the palio. The day is marked by ritual moments: the Horsemen's Holy Mass, the historical pageant of the districts through the village streets, and the blessing of the horses on the church square.

The tripe breakfast

One of the most beloved traditions of the Palio of Buti is the tripe breakfast: from the early hours of the morning, tripe and wine are served at the district headquarters in a convivial ritual that warms up the locals and visitors before the tension of the race. It is one of those moments where you can breathe the authentic soul of the village, amidst scents, songs, and colors.

A community-wide event

Organized by the Associazione Palio delle Contrade of Buti with the patronage of the Tuscany Region, the Municipality of Buti, the Province of Pisa, and the Union of Municipalities of Valdera, the Palio is much more than a race: it is the culmination of a whole year of district life, made of roving dinners, friendly challenges, and preparations. For those visiting Tuscany in winter, it is an opportunity to discover a popular event far from mass tourism circuits, where tradition is still lived firsthand by the inhabitants.