My favorite ways to closely experience local culture is to get lucky enough (or to plan…) to partake in one of the local festivals, such as Carro Matto in Florence, or “crazy cart”. On the last Saturday in September, this buzy city is suddenly even more alive with the sound of drums, colors of medieval costumes, a cart full of over 2,000 round bottles of Chianti di Rufina, pulled by a pair of white oxen, and a fascinating flag throwing competition performed by Bandierai degli Uffizi. Watch the video below. It was windy, yet the flag throwers managed to keep their formations quite beautifully, and I don’t recall a single…