Butteri were the cowboys (formerly also mounted shepherds) of the coastal Maremma plains of Tuscany. The buttero was a herdsman, the man in charge of watching over, taking care of, taming and breaking in large herds of cows and horses bred in the wild. However, the land reclamation works carried out under Mussolini in the 1930s and 40s, and the agrarian reforms of the 1950s, which marked the end of the large landed estates, also basically ended the era of the professional buttero. The Maremma and the Alta Maremma are probably the last “off the beaten track” parts of Tuscany and it is here that you still have a chance to glimpse what remains of this fascinating Tuscan lifestyle, that of the butteri.
Butteri, the cowboys of the coastal Maremma plains of Tuscany.
Only 5 or 6 large herds are still tended by butteri today in the national park of Maremma, but the tradition of the butteri is relived outside the park in small demonstrations in the region’s rural towns and in the Italian equivalent of rodeos. It is possible to ride with the butteri as they check their cattle in the Parco Regionale della Maremma (Maremma regional park) and on the first Sunday in August the butteri gather and brand their cattle, showing off their skills as horsemen.
More about the butteri of the Maremma.
More about the Alta Maremma.
About Elena Spolaor
Although Elena was born in Venice, she was brought up in Tuscany and is a historian and frequent contributor to online articles about life in Tuscany and Umbria. Her specialities are Tuscan and Umbrian local history and folklore.
- Web |
- More Posts(58)
Here are some similar topics:
Certaldo Alto, hometown of Boccaccio
When you’re exploring Tuscany to the southwest of Florence, the old town of Certaldo in Tuscany, known as Certaldo Alto, is definitely worth a visit. This is the hometown of Boccaccio, author of the Decameron and contemporary of Petrarch, and it retains much of its mediaeval architecture and charm. Boccaccio’s house for the last years… 
Tuscan folk festivals and historical re-enactments
Italy offers some of the best folk festivals in the world, with Tuscany among the leaders. Tuscan folk festivals and historical re-enactments should not be missed if the opportunity arises. Almost every town and village has its own costume event, often with a mediaeval or Renaissance theme, or a reenactment of a famous battle or… 
Greve in Chianti becomes a flower and shrub market for the Festa dei Fiori
In early May each year, the main piazza of Greve is transformed into a flower and shrub market for the Festa dei Fiori. The Festa dei Fiori is a commercial market where local people buy shrubs, roses and annuals for their gardens and window boxes. It is also a great moment to visit Greve in… 
San Miniato in Tuscany, location of a great truffle fair during November
For anyone interested in truffles or, indeed, Tuscan gastronomy in general, San Miniato in Tuscany, location of a great truffle fair during November, is a name to conjure with. San Miniato is about 45 km from Florence (one and a quarter hours by car) and the time to visit is during October and November when… 
Spaltenna, the castle and the parish church near Gaiole in Chianti
If you’re in search of great material for scenic photography (plus some history and architecture), pay a visit to Spaltenna, the castle and the parish church near Gaiole in Chianti, Tuscany. Spaltenna is a classic example of a Tuscan fortified settlement consisting of a monastery (previously a castle), a parish church and a cluster of… 
The Chianti hamlet of San Leolino in Tuscany, Italy
The hamlet of San Leolino very near Panzano in Chianti is home to the parish church of the same name. The Pieve di San Leolino is first recorded in the year 982, under the name of San Leolino in Flacciano in a parchment held in the Abbey of Passignano, but two sculptural fragments housed in… 
The Vasari Corridor in Florence, then and now
The two pictures below of the exterior of the Vasari Corridor in Florence encapsulate some of this city’s recent history. In the 19 C photo, we see the supporting arches of the then-closed corridor packed with workshops that hang out over the River Arno. This was the traditional location of the gun makers’ workshops, the… 
Posted in 
Tags: 
