What is the butteri festival?

The butteri festival is a popular festival of the Maremma that celebrates horseback herd keepers and rural traditions, often with a meal and equestrian demonstrations. It is not a single festival with a fixed date: depending on the village, you can find horse games, the herding of Maremmana cattle and reenactments of work practices, in addition to stalls or a local meal.

For the gastronomy part, take a look for example at the Sbraciata del Buttero, organized in Pomonte, in the municipality of Scansano : the sbraciata — grilled meats — is on the menu along with other Maremman specialties, and an equestrian show rounds off the evening. The event takes place in summer, but the dates and program change from one edition to the next. There are also butteri shows near Scarlino, sometimes separate from a food festival: so don't assume that a meal is always included or that all events offer the same thing. Check the times and prices with the organizers before you go; information from a past edition does not guarantee those of the next one.