At the end of August, every harvest, the Bigonzo race place in Canale Monterano, involving wooden baskets used in the past to hold the harvested grapes.
The festival is propitiatory and recalls the Roman feasts. Four competitors in each of six teams carry on their shoulders a board to which is hung the wooden basket and they compete in a race over a distance of 135 m along the main street of the village.
The harvest baskets are filled with sand and weigh about 45 kg. In the past a child was placed inside: it was very exciting but dangerous.
The race involves the six districts of the town area and the prize is a palio, a hand-painted banner by local artists with subject inspired by the race and in honour of the patron saints.
The festival includes a medieval parade with knights and ladies of the six districts, drummers and flag bearers.
Follow us