Since 1958, the Sagra del Tordo has been celebrated in Montalcino in October.
This event originates from the ancient hunting tradition of these areas, where the migratory flow of birds coming from the North, and in particular of thrushes, has always been very intense.
In the Middle Ages, when hunters and falconers returned to their villages full of prey, it was customary to organize parties in which nobles and people participated together. The men competed in jousts, while the women prepared large banquets with game and local wine.
During the two days of the Festival, the joust is the archery competition between the representatives of the Montalcino districts, who take to the field to challenge each other and are recognizable by the colors of their costumes: Borghetto (white and red), Pianello (white and blue), Ruga (yellow and blue) and Travaglio (yellow and red).
The festival begins on Saturday morning, when the young people of the folk group Il Trescone dance and sing accompanied by accordions, inviting you to participate in the party. Meanwhile, a procession made up of 150 participants, with costumes inspired by medieval ones, parades through the streets of the town, decorated for the occasion with the flags of the four districts.
In Piazza del Popolo, the town crier formally declares the Sagra del Tordo open, and some thrushes are released into flight.
Domenica pomeriggio, al termine della gara di tiro con l’arco, il Quartiere vincitore ritira una freccia d’argento, dando il via a festeggiamenti che andranno avanti per tutto l’inverno, con i Quartieri sconfitti sbeffeggiati dai vincitori con canti e scherzi.
