Il Calcio Storico Fiorentino

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Go and See a Calcio Storico Fiorentino Match
Soccer (for the Americans), or football (for the rest of the world) has ancient origins, spreading over many times and places. As early as the eleventh century BC, Japan and China developed many games similar to football. The Greeks started playing a similar sport around the 4th century AD and from there it traveled to ancient Rome where Harpastum was a game in which two opposing teams had to carry a ball over the opponent’s goal line.

Harpastum was a mix of football, rugby, wrestling and boxing, and it was the favorite pastime of Roman soldiers who played it when the army was stationed within the Roman Empire.

But the city where this sport reached its heyday was in Medicean Florence, where it was called Calcio Fiorentino or Florentine Footbal The Tuscan capital has been playing the game since time immemorial, and by the second half of the 1500s Calcio Fiorentino was being played by young Florentines in every street and square of the city. One moment in particular shows the deep historical roots of the sport in Florence; it was February 17th, 1530 and a momentous match in Piazza Santa Croce (where the sport is still played today) was held where King Charles V of Spain who had been holding the city under siege for several months, took part in the game, showing how little he feared the Florentine soldiers.

We have Calcio Fiorentino to thank for many of our favorite sports today: soccer, football, rugby, etc.

Today the game is played every June, between four teams, representing the four neighborhoods of historical Florence: Santa Croce (Blue), Santo Spirito (White), Santa Maria Novella (Red) e San Giovanni (Green). The two semifinals are usually held one weekend in the first half of June. The final match is always June 24th, the day the city celebrates its patron saint, Saint John the Baptist. An historic costume parade travels through the city, traveling fro Piazza Santa Maria Novella to Piazza Santa Croce. All four teams participate in the parade, regardless of which teams compete in the final. The parade usually begins around 3 pm and the final match usually takes place around 5 pm.
Idea for a Day of Florentine Tradition

June 24, is the day of Saint John the Baptist, patron saint of Florence, and a holiday for the city. Head to Piazza Santa Maria Novella around 3 pm for the start of the parade which will take you across the Renaissance City to watch the final match of Calcio Fiorentino played by teams representing the districts of historic Florence. Enjoy the battle and the ritual traditions.

Following the match, head towards the river and the bridges of central Florence, we recommend Ponte San Niccolò, where you will want to be in position by 10pm to watch the fantastic firework display from Piazzale Michelangelo, but not before you have a glass of Tuscan red wine, and a panino con lampredotto. The fireworks will seem like they are right above you.

Long Live Florence!

Eto soobshcheniye takzhe dostupna v: Английский Итальянский Французский Испанский Немецкий Португальский, Португалия