in italiano

Tuscan Folklore in June

Tuscan Folklore in June

Spring is easing into summer, a period full of events such as the Palio of Siena, the Joust of the Saracen in Arezzo, and Calcio in Costume or the historical football of Florence...

Beyond these more famous events, there is a myriad of minor appointments throughout the countryside and in small Tuscan towns. These events are worth a visit because it's the simple things that remain truly genuine and popular with locals and tourists alike.

We are going to tell you about some of the more famous events to whet your appetite starting with Florence's football in fancy dress, or calcio in costume a historical competition whose origins reach far back in time. The first Italian dictionary of 1612, from the Accademici della Crusca posits the theory that football was born here, orginating with the Greeks and passing north via the Romans. The Romans called football "Harpastum", which signifies 'ripped by force'. It is highly likely that the Roman legionaries stationed at the colony of Florentia introduced the game that we know today as Calcio in costume and is more aggressive than modern football (soccor).

Calcio in Costume is a spirited celebration that takes place each year in the Piazza Santa Croce. There are three fixtures; two elimination games and the final, played in June as part of the celebrations of the patron saint of Florence, St. John the Bapist, between the four neighbourhoods of Florence. Joust of the Saracen Giostra del Saracino , also known as Giostra ad Burattum, dates back to the Middle Ages. La Giostra is a battle between individual combatants who fight one to one. The word giostra comes from the Latin word juxta meaning close, or near, and the contest was an exercise during military training of Christian troops fighting Muslem expansion into Christian lands including Jerusalem.

The target is a mechanised wooden Saracen warrior with a broad chest and outstretched fist. He is set into the ground. Though predestined to lose, he plays an active in the tournament. The knights on horsebank aim is to strike him with their lances. When struck a mechanism triggers the warrior's huge fist which rolls around to swipe the slower knights off their horses. The Joust is held on the second to last Saturday in June and then again on the first Sunday in September. It is proceeded by a colourful procession of over 350 people dressed in Medieval costume. The tournament itself is held in the Piazza Grande of Arezzo and a real sight to behold. Four knights, one from each quarter of the city; Porta S Spirito, Portae Cruciera, Porta del Foro and Porta S Andre, challenge the burly automaton. The winner takes the "Lancia d'Oro or the Gold Lance as their prize.

Usually however the prize in such competitions is the palio The word comes from the latin pallium, which means cloak or rectangle of fabric. In the Middle Ages the palio was often a banner of valuable fabric - richly embroidered silk, velvet or brocade - which was given to the winners of the competitions organised by towns on their patron saint's day. The Palio di Siena is surely the best known of Tuscany's tournaments (July 2 and August 16), but the "Palio di San Ranieri" of Pisa, (June 17) also enjoys a certain fame. The regatta between the four quarters of Pisa is held on the River Arno, and the losing team wins a pair of ducks.

Bagno a Ripoli 2432 Weekly Price: Min. € 500,00 Max. € 850,00 Number of Beds: 35

Dicomano 919 Weekly Price: Min. € 450,00 Max. € 1.100,00 Number of Beds: 30

Pontassieve 1797 Weekly Price: Min. € 460,00 Max. € 1.100,00 Number of Beds: 50

Castelnuovo Berardenga 1443 Weekly Price: Min. € 420,00 Max. € 833,00 Number of Beds: 46