{"id":62923,"date":"2022-05-06T10:01:04","date_gmt":"2022-05-06T14:01:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.italyperfect.com\/blog\/?p=62923"},"modified":"2022-05-06T10:01:04","modified_gmt":"2022-05-06T14:01:04","slug":"calcio-storico-florences-exhilarating-local-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.italyperfect.com\/blog\/calcio-storico-florences-exhilarating-local-game.html","title":{"rendered":"Calcio Storico: Florence’s Exhilarating Local Game"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Calcio Storico – a unique Florentine tradition. (Credit<\/a>)<\/p><\/div>\n

Once a year, the genteel streets of Florence take a surprisingly violent turn. The beating of drums fills the air. A historical parade with medieval costumed figures leads the way to Piazza Santa Croce<\/a>, which has been transformed into a sandy field surrounded by stands of cheering crowds. Splendid flag throwing and bands are just the beginning of the day\u2019s events, because now it is time for the Calcio Storico game to begin. This is Florence like you\u2019ve never seen it.<\/p>\n

While there is no simple description of Calcio Storico<\/a>, also called Calcio Fiorentino<\/em>, the game is an early form of football\u2014although more like rugby\u2014if you add in bare-knuckle boxing and remove very nearly all the rules. In 1574, Henry III, King of France, described the game as \u201cToo small to be a war, too cruel to be a game.\u201d In all the centuries since, no one has come up with a better description of Calcio Storico. Nowaways, every June 24th on the festival of Florence\u2019s patron San Giovanni Battista, the players\u2014often called \u201cmodern day gladiators\u201d\u2014take the field to quite literally fight for the honor and traditions of the city they love.<\/p>\n