Waiting for the Barbarossa

Waiting for the Barbarossa: the prelude to the great medieval festival

Waiting for the Barbarossa is the lead-up event to the historic Barbarossa Festival, the re-enactment that transforms San Quirico d'Orcia—in the heart of the Val d'Orcia, province of Siena—into a medieval village every year. Designed as a convivial anticipation of the main event, it takes place over two weekends in May and involves both the historic center of San Quirico d'Orcia and the charming thermal hamlet of Bagno Vignoni.

Two weekends of tradition and fine dining

The program is dedicated to conviviality, tradition, and excellent cuisine. The evenings feature a mix of live music, open-air dinners, gastronomic events, performances, and medieval initiatives that bring the identity of the town and its districts to life. It is the perfect opportunity to savor Sienese dishes and typical Val d'Orcia products in an informal atmosphere, before the more solemn rituals of the June festival.

The link to the Barbarossa Festival

The event is rooted in the Barbarossa Festival, which commemorates the meeting between Frederick I of Hohenstaufen, known as Barbarossa, and the envoys of Pope Adrian IV that took place in the territory in the 12th century. During the main festival, the town's four districts—Borgo, Canneti, Castello, and Prato—compete in contests and historical pageants. Waiting for the Barbarossa was born as a preparatory moment promoted by the districts themselves, which enliven the evenings with propitiatory dinners and themed initiatives, building the sense of community that is the true heart of the re-enactment.

Bagno Vignoni and the Val d'Orcia

The choice of Bagno Vignoni as a venue for some of the events is no coincidence: the hamlet, famous for its medieval thermal pool square, is one of the most iconic spots in the Val d'Orcia, a Tuscan landscape recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The evenings of Waiting for the Barbarossa thus become an invitation to discover the hills, cypress trees, and stone villages of this corner of Tuscany, during May, a particularly pleasant season to visit the region.

An experience for residents and visitors

More than just a calendar of events, Waiting for the Barbarossa is a collective ritual that connects generations and visitors. Between an open-air dinner and a concert, between medieval initiatives and local produce, the event tells the story of a small municipality in the province of Siena that has made its history and traditions a source of pride and hospitality.