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Butteri or Tuscan cowboys spotted in Florentine park

The Americans think of course that they have the exclusive right to the cowboy, but the Tuscan region Maremma has its own kind of cowboy: il buttero.

The Americans think of course that they have the exclusive right to the cowboy, but the Tuscan region Maremma has its own kind of cowboy: il buttero.

The name buttero derives from Latin, so it’s safe to say that these brave men (and women now too) have been in the saddle a lot longer than their American colleagues.

The butteri are responsible for the herds of cattle and in the old days they spent a big part of their lives outside in the rugged landscape of the Maremma. Nowadays, there are not so many butteri left who work full-time, but the tradition is proudly maintained by a growing number of enthusiasts.

During my visits to the Maremma I unfortunately never encountered any butteri but yesterday a few fine specimens rode around in the park Le Cascine during the Rural Expo.

 

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