In Florence, the Calcio Storico is a spectacular and violent tradition, a mixture of rugby, football and struggle
Dating from the 16th century, today’s calcio storico (or calcio florentin) is certainly the most violent form of football in the world. He only practiced Florence in Italy, where the four teams of 27 men represent four historical districts of Florentine (the Azzurri of Santa Croce, Rossi of Santa Maria Novella, the Bianchi of Santo Spirito and Verdi de San Giovanni), and face each year in June.
The calcio storico ("historical football") originates from harpastum , game to which the legionaries of the Roman Empire played. Most appreciated by the Legionnaires, they spread it to every corner of the Empire, including Florence. The official rules were written in 1580 by Giovanni de Bardi, a count of Florence. An arbitrator ( giudice arbitro ) and six line judges ( segnalinee ) control the game with an additional judge ( Gudice commissario ) outside the field. Finally, an arbitrator considered to be the master of the field ( maestro di campo ) monitors the course of the game and restores the order in case of major problem or cheating.
Defined in costume before the start of the Florence storico calcio final in 2011 – Photo credit: Flickr – Jon Gonzalo Torróntegui
Each team must score the most goals ( caccia ) to the opponent but the almost absence of rules makes the game very rough. Shots at the head are forbidden, as are both against one. Everything else is allowed. Thus, no matter how the ball lands in the cages: with 54 costumed men putting punches, foot, head, elbow and fighting against each other on a vast and dusty terrain, each 50-minute game looks like a clown battle.
But the violence they inflict and endure, and the status of the game as a symbol of Florentine culture, calcianti (players) are venerated as representatives of their communities.
Photo credit: Wikimedia - Lorenzo Noccioli
For some, this is the most anticipated event of the year, more than Christmas. It is 100% florentin.
Traditionally, the victorious team from the tournament received a Chianina cow, a former local race. Instead today, a post-match feast is offered to the winning team.
In 2015, it’s the team Bianchi , from the Santi Spirito district that won, after defeating Verdi from San Giovanni, June 24.
Composition of a team
Four datori indietro (goers)
Three datori innanzi (defenders)
Five sconciatori (thousands of land),
Fifteen innanzi or corridori (attacks).
Disappeared during the 18th century, he was revived in Florence in the 1930s. Nowadays, he stays every year on the occasion of a major annual tournament, Torneo dei Quattro Quartieri (Tournoi of the four quarters), composed of three great matches (two playoffs and the final) that take place from June 14th, the final contesting the day of the feast of the patron saint of the city, John the Baptist.
54 players compete in medieval costume on the piazza Santa Croce , in the heart of the city, which is covered with sand for the occasion, in front of some 6,000 spectators.
The calcio storico takes place on Santa Croce Square, where many spectators attend meetings from the stands or from the windows of the houses surrounding the square – Photo credit: Flickr – Alexandra
In 1575 a match was held in Lyon by the Florentine merchants in honour of King Henry III. The latter hardly appreciated the show, saying: “It’s too small to be called war, too cruel to be called a game”
Main photo credit: YouTube – Narratively
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