St. Catherine’s Focarazza Museum

This museum is located in an old blacksmith’s false and documents the centuries-old Focarazza di Santa Caterina, an annual religious ceremony held in Roccalbegna.

The intensely traditional and local exhibition is divided into two sections. The former displays a collection of ancient and contemporary tools that have been used over the years to prepare wood and other items, which are then burned in the giant bonfire on the night of November 24.

The second part of the exhibition focuses on the “stollo,” the wooden pole in the center of the palio race held after the Focarazza ceremony. The stole is the wooden pole that represents the horrific death at the stake of St. Catherine.

On the night of the festival, wood is placed around the pole and burned. The men of the city then pulled him out of the still smoldering fire and hurriedly returned him to their quarter of the city. Whoever gets home first with the stole wins.

Sure it’s a strange tradition, but it’s unique to Roccalbegna and it’s a celebration you won’t easily forget!

The museum also houses a small exhibition on traditional children’s games practiced in the area.