Ferragosto...

Since you've been asking, here's a brief wikipedic explanation of the Feast of Ferragosto...

Ferragosto is an Italian secular celebration that takes place on August 15th and which is usually an excuse to travel to vacations spots such as the beach or mountains.

The term Ferragosto derives from the latin expression Feriae Augusti (Augustus' rest) indicating a festivity set up by the Emperor Augustus in the year 18B.C. which was an addition to the existing and very ancient Roman festivals which fell on the same month, to celebrate the harvest and the end of the main agricultural tasks.

In the Catholic tradition, Ferragosto coincides with the celebration of the day in which Virgin Mary is taken to Heaven. 

In many cities and towns, local festivities are organized to celebrate that day and those to follow.

In Montepulciano, many tourists come to town to rest and escape from the heat of August in Italy.

The main event is the Bruscello, which means "arboscello," small tree branch.

Il Bruscello Poliziano has been taking place, since 1939, between the 12th and the 15th of August, in the Cathedral's Sagrato, in Piazza Grande.

The Bruscello is a type of popular Tuscan theatre, recited and sung by amateur actors. The themes vary year after year (epical representations, historical events or famous plays), and the scripts, costumes and set design are the work of the "bruscellanti," a group of people that do all this just for the love of tradition.

This year I saw "Orpheus and Eurydice."

But all comes to an end, and it's time to leave Montepulciano and its Ferragosto, to go to other countries and find new things to tell you...