As workmen moved in to fix the problem, the event was the talk of the town yesterday. One local called Anna said: “I was in the kitchen ready to do the housework and had filled up a bucket of water.

“I was going to mop the floor with it but I immediately noticed a sweet smell from the tap and it was also slightly yellow. I recognised instantly it was wine.

“I called my neighbours and they turned on their taps and it was the same. The word quickly spread and everyone filled up bottles and plastic containers with the wine.

“It all happened at the same time as the festival, so everyone thought it was a miracle. I don’t think the mayor and the other officials were very happy, though.”

Mayor Palozzi said: “It was a surprise which was due to a technical error and it is being fixed.

“It was not a miracle, it was a mistake. Several houses have been affected and people were calling it a miracle which it wasn’t. I don’t think it dampened the enthusiasm of people at the festival and everyone still had a good time.”
 
The festival – called Sagra dell Uva – commemorates the return of Admiral Marcantonio Colonna to his home town of Marino following a celebrated victory over the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto in October 1571.