Only in Italy #8

During  a recent walking tour of Florence, we discovered Il Carro Matto--in English, the Crazy Cart.

In the heart of Florence, the Crazy Cart is displayed in the central courtyard of Palazzo Antinori, the seat of one of the important winemaking families in Tuscany.  The cart, pictured below, is an engineering marvel because, when the cart is fully loaded, it can carry 2,000 bottles of Chianti.  Now, that's crazy!

Il Carro Matto

Il Carro Matto

A vintage photograph of Il Carro Matto in front of the Palazzo Antinori in Florence.  (The commentary is reproduced below.)

Here is some helpful information about the Crazy Cart:

"A brief history by Luciano Artusi

Historically Tuscan red wine came primarily from the area surrounding Chianti, Poggibonsi and Rufina, a small village on the outskirts of Florence that has always been known for its structured rich ruby red wines. As far back as the XIV century, the straw covered flask was the typical bottle for Tuscan wines.  This pear-shaped long-necked bottle contained one and three quarters liter of wine and the bottle itself was made of blown glass by flask makers.

In the center of Florence, the corner of Via Condotta and Via dei Calzaioli was known as flask-makers junction because many of these craftsmen had their workshops and warehouses there. The flask maker not only made the glass bottle but also crafted the straw basket using swamp weeds such as “sala” or “rascello”:  the straw covering served as protection for the glass bottle during transportation and at the same time was thermal insulation so the wine inside didn’t spoil.  

Flasks full of wine came into town from the countryside skillfully loaded “cesta” style, a pyramidal arrangement, on long carriages usually drawn by horses; the feat of arranging 2000 fragile flasks required ability and experience:  few master craftsmen were capable of building this architectural masterpiece.

When these imposing vessels loaded with flasks arrived into downtown Florence, the city streets echoed with the sounds of clattering hooves, the cracking of the whip and creaky brakes grinding to a halt:  unloading operations then began in front of the taverns and trattorias;  at this point each flask was equipped with a tuft of oakum, pushed through the straw basket that was used to absorb the thin layer of oil that was added on purpose to the wine during bottling.

In the era of the Florentine Republic, enormous pyramids of flasks were build every year on the 29th of September to celebrate the arrival of the new vintage: after receiving a blessing in the church in Via Calzaioli, the wine was brought into Piazza della Signoria where the Gonfaloniere toasted together with the Priors to the health of Florentine community."

We are looking forward to the next "Offering of the Wine" on September 29 this year, when the Crazy Cart is again paraded through the town to celebrate the Florentine Republic.  Below are photos of a past parade. 

The Crazy Cart in the Piazza Della Signoria.  Each ox gets to wear a nice headdress.

The Crazy Cart in the Piazza Della Signoria.  Of course, the parade must include flag throwing.

The Crazy Cart.  Only in Italy.