Palio
di Siena
A traditional horse race that takes place twice a year – on the
2nd July and 16th August. The horses, which represent the various districts
of the town, run at breakneck speed in a frenetic race on a course which
is especially built for the occasion on the Piazza del Campo.
The winning horse wears the colours in honour of its district until the
next race.
This competition in costume takes place on the last Sunday in June, and the main districts of the city challenge each other on the Ponte di Mezzo. Prior to the competition there is costume parade. The Game on the Bridge is part of the great festivities that take place in Pisa at the end of June: from the Historical Regata of San Ranieri, the patron saint of Pisa, to the “Luminari”, when all the buildings on each side of the River Arno are lit up with candles creating a truly fascinating atmosphere.
Historical Florentine Football Match
This
is a sporting event, strictly costume only, a real medieval football match
which takes place in the Piazza Santa Croce, the artistic heart of Florence,
at the end of June during the festivities dedicated to San Giovanni, the
patron saint of Florence.
Explosion
of the wagon – Florence
A
historical, religious festival which takes place at Easter in front of
the Duomo in Florence. A large wagon pulled by oxen is brought to the
Piazza del Duomo. At the height of the religious ceremony the “colombina”,
a rocket resembling a white dove is lit and thrown towards the wagon starting
off the fireworks which are on the wagon itself. The successful explosion
of the wagon was a good omen for the following season.
Re-enactment of historical jousting on horseback dating back to the Middle Ages, preceded by various tournaments which take place in two parts in the town of Arezzo. The main event occurs on the first Sunday in September, and the less important one on the third Sunday in June.
On the first Sunday in September, archers from the four main districts of the town compete with each other for the painted banner depicting an important event in the history of Pescia.
