Balestro del Girifalco (May edition)
The challenge between the three Terzieri of Massa Marittima in the Duomo square
About Balestro del Girifalco
A medieval challenge in the heart of the Maremma
The Balestro del Girifalco is one of Tuscany's most deeply felt historical re-enactments and the event that, twice a year, brings Massa Marittima back to the atmosphere of its Free Commune era. It is an Italian-style crossbow competition—using faithful replicas of 15th-century instruments—contested between the three Terzieri into which the city is historically divided: Borgo, Cittannova, and Cittavecchia. The event takes place in the historic center of Massa Marittima, in the province of Grosseto, with its most spectacular setting in Piazza Garibaldi (the Duomo square), dominated by the Cathedral of San Cerbone.
The competition: the girifalco and the twenty-four crossbowmen
Twenty-four crossbowmen take the field, eight for each Terziere. The target is the girifalco, a wooden cone about 13 centimeters in diameter protruding 42 centimeters from a 50-centimeter circular base, placed at a distance of 36 meters. Each crossbowman fires a bolt, aiming for the center of the target: the winning Terziere receives the palio, a banner painted each year by a different artist chosen through a public competition.
The historical pageant
Before the competition, the streets of the center fill with the historical pageant: over 150 participants in authentic medieval costumes, accompanied by the Company of Flag-wavers and Musicians, parade among the stone buildings to the Duomo square. It is a highly evocative moment that transports the audience back in time to when Massa Marittima was a thriving Free Commune.
The two editions: May and August
The Balestro is held twice a year: a spring edition in May and a summer edition in August. This page is dedicated to the May edition, organized as always by the Società dei Terzieri Massetani APS. The event is a hallmark of the calendar for Massa Marittima and all of southern Tuscany, drawing visitors from across the region and beyond.
Balestro del Girifalco — edition 2026
132nd edition — May 2026
The 2026 spring edition of the Balestro del Girifalco, the 132nd, brought the traditional challenge between the Terzieri of Borgo, Cittannova, and Cittavecchia to Massa Marittima. The palio, a work by the Sienese painter Tommaso Andreini (in his second consecutive participation after the August 2025 edition), was dedicated to the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. The winning design was selected from the proposals of 21 artists participating in the competition.
Programme Balestro del Girifalco 2026
Friday, May 22
- 10:30 AM — Presentation of the Balestruzzo banners at the Aula Magna of the Middle School
- 9:00 PM — "Balestruzzo": crossbow competition for young archers at the Cassero Senese
Saturday, May 23
- 11:00 AM — Presentation of the dedication and the palio at Palazzo dell'Abbondanza
- 4:45 PM — Historical pageant in the historic center
- 5:15 PM — Reading of the proclamation, shooting competition, and performance by the Company of Flag-wavers and Musicians
- 8:00 PM — Pre-Balestro social dinners in the three Terzieri
Sunday, May 24
- 5:00 PM — Historical pageant departing from Piazza XXIV Maggio through the streets of the center to Piazza Garibaldi
- 5:30 PM — 132nd Balestro del Girifalco in Piazza Garibaldi
Highlights Balestro del Girifalco 2026
Prices Balestro del Girifalco 2026
Practical information — Balestro del Girifalco
How to get there
Massa Marittima is located in the inland area of the province of Grosseto. By car, it can be reached from the SS1 Aurelia (Follonica exit), then following signs for Massa Marittima (about 20 km from the coast). The nearest train station is Follonica, on the Rome–Pisa–Genoa line, which is connected to the center by bus.
Tickets
To watch the competition, grandstand seating is available in Piazza Garibaldi: advance tickets can be purchased at the Massa Marittima Tourist Office (tel. +39 0566 906554). The historical pageant along the streets of the center is free to view.
Tips
Arrive early to find a spot along the parade route and to visit the medieval historic center, including the Cathedral of San Cerbone and the Cassero Senese.
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Where does it take place — Balestro del Girifalco
Piazza Garibaldi
Piazza Garibaldi, 58024 Massa Marittima