CARRIERA DI SAN MARTINO
Carriera di San Martino - Cart Race in honour of St. Martin patron of Sinalunga
Next Edition: Coming Soon
Organized by Pro Loco Sinalunga
Location: Piazza Garibaldi, Sinalunga (SI)
The Carriera di San Martino di Sinalunga, also known as the Corsa dei Carretti (Cart Race), was created in the 1950s, when a group of young people decided to challenge one another along a route created inside the historic district from Via San Martino to Via Ciro Pinsuti on carts made with wooden surfaces and iron wheels.
The event was then revived in 1982 in a different guise. Starting from that edition, the current race route was defined, starting from Piazza Garibaldi, the historic center of the town, continuing along the descent that leads to Pieve di Sinalunga.
While previously only the boys who lived in the houses of the historic center of Sinalunga used to compete, in 1997 the nine current districts were established, which also include the neighborhoods located downhill: Cappella (blue - orange), Casalpiano (pink - white), Cassero (yellow - black) , Centro Storico (green - red), I Frati (white - green), Le Prata (white - red), Pietraia (yellow - blue), Pieve Vecchia (white - light blue), Rigaiolo (black - green).
The event takes place over two days.
Every evening of the weekend, volunteers from the nine districts open their own street food stand, offering refreshments to fans of the race with savory and sweet food and drinks.
Free practice takes place on Saturday, in which each team, made up of a driver and a pusher, tries out the route.
Sunday opens with the historical parade in which each district walks through the streets of the town carrying the coat of arms of their neighborhood until they reach the Collegiate Church of San Martino where they will receive the Blessing from the parish priest of the aforementioned church. The Procession of the Districts is accompanied by the participants of the Historical Reenactment of Saint Martin organized by the Astrolabio Cultural Association. At the end of the blessing, the first performance of the Flag Wavers and Drummers Group of the districts takes place.
The race is divided into two heats: the first one in the morning and the second one in the afternoon.
Braking, counter-steering and spins contribute to creating a real spectacle for the people in the audience who passionately cheer on the side of the roads.
Four male and one female crews from each district take part in the race. For the male crews, it begins with two semi-final sessions of twelve heats each, in which the nine districts compete three at a time based on a draw. The three districts with the most points compete in the final. The female crews also compete in two semi-finals of three heats each, and the three districts with the most points compete in the final. A specially dedicated cup is awarded to the female crew. At the end of the competition, prizes are also awarded to individual athletes who have distinguished themselves for their particular skill.
The winner of the race receives as a prize a cloth banner (Palio) painted every year by a local artist.
We look forward to seeing you in Sinalunga to cheer on all the athletes in the race together and to delight you with the tasty street food of the Rioni (neighbourhoods)!
Next Edition: Coming Soon
Organized by Pro Loco Sinalunga
Location: Piazza Garibaldi, Sinalunga (SI)
The Carriera di San Martino di Sinalunga, also known as the Corsa dei Carretti (Cart Race), was created in the 1950s, when a group of young people decided to challenge one another along a route created inside the historic district from Via San Martino to Via Ciro Pinsuti on carts made with wooden surfaces and iron wheels.
The event was then revived in 1982 in a different guise. Starting from that edition, the current race route was defined, starting from Piazza Garibaldi, the historic center of the town, continuing along the descent that leads to Pieve di Sinalunga.
While previously only the boys who lived in the houses of the historic center of Sinalunga used to compete, in 1997 the nine current districts were established, which also include the neighborhoods located downhill: Cappella (blue - orange), Casalpiano (pink - white), Cassero (yellow - black) , Centro Storico (green - red), I Frati (white - green), Le Prata (white - red), Pietraia (yellow - blue), Pieve Vecchia (white - light blue), Rigaiolo (black - green).
The event takes place over two days.
Every evening of the weekend, volunteers from the nine districts open their own street food stand, offering refreshments to fans of the race with savory and sweet food and drinks.
Free practice takes place on Saturday, in which each team, made up of a driver and a pusher, tries out the route.
Sunday opens with the historical parade in which each district walks through the streets of the town carrying the coat of arms of their neighborhood until they reach the Collegiate Church of San Martino where they will receive the Blessing from the parish priest of the aforementioned church. The Procession of the Districts is accompanied by the participants of the Historical Reenactment of Saint Martin organized by the Astrolabio Cultural Association. At the end of the blessing, the first performance of the Flag Wavers and Drummers Group of the districts takes place.
The race is divided into two heats: the first one in the morning and the second one in the afternoon.
Braking, counter-steering and spins contribute to creating a real spectacle for the people in the audience who passionately cheer on the side of the roads.
Four male and one female crews from each district take part in the race. For the male crews, it begins with two semi-final sessions of twelve heats each, in which the nine districts compete three at a time based on a draw. The three districts with the most points compete in the final. The female crews also compete in two semi-finals of three heats each, and the three districts with the most points compete in the final. A specially dedicated cup is awarded to the female crew. At the end of the competition, prizes are also awarded to individual athletes who have distinguished themselves for their particular skill.
The winner of the race receives as a prize a cloth banner (Palio) painted every year by a local artist.
We look forward to seeing you in Sinalunga to cheer on all the athletes in the race together and to delight you with the tasty street food of the Rioni (neighbourhoods)!
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