The Bruscello Poliziano

From the 14th to the 17th of August Piazza Grande returns to host a symbolic event of the summer in Montepulciano: the Bruscello. The Compagnia Popolare, founded in 1939, carries on the long standing tradition of narrating in rhyme medieval events, from the history of Montepulciano and beyond, transporting the public back in time. 

The theme of the event, which mixes singing and acting, varies from year to year. Subjects, texts and screenplay are all a product of the creative spontaneity of the bruscellanti, the popular company that practices this genre for the sake of tradition and pleasure. 

For this 86th edition in the history of the Bruscello, the choice was made to stage "Paolo and Francesca," a rewritten and adapted version of the Bruscello originally composed by Don Marcello Del Balio, previously performed in 1973 and 2003. In line with the tradition of the festival, the performance blends theatre, folk singing, and culture, creating a collective and engaging storytelling experience that resonates with today’s audiences. Through the tragic and captivating story of Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Polenta – immortalized in the fifth canto of Dante’s Inferno – the show promises to move spectators with a powerful narrative, faithful to its literary origins yet open to interpretations that echo Boccaccio and the oral tradition.

The Bruscello will be performed in the splendid setting of the cathedral parvis in Piazza Grande, Montepulciano, from August 14 to 17, 2025, with a preview – effectively a dress rehearsal – on the evening of August 13.