Watch out for the rolling barrels on a Tuscany villa holiday

Taking place on the last Sunday of August, the event sees the eight Contrads of Montepulciano compete for a painted cloth banner.

To settle the score they role barrels weighing about 80 kilos up a 1,800 metre street to finish in the Piazza Grande.

The banner depicts the Patron Saint of the town of San Giovanni Decollato and it is in the saint's honour that the event is celebrated.

The event is worth leaving your family villa in Tuscany for as it has been going since the 1300s .

Holiday makers will find that the event begins in the morning when ceremonies in the Piazza Grande take place.

The race begins in the evening as the barrels begin to role and when the winner is declared a party is started with food, games, music and wine being the focus of the events.

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