Calcio Storico Fiorentino

A long-standing tradition

The Calcio Storico Fiorentino is one of the most iconic events for the city of Florence and the entire Tuscany region. Its origins trace back to the Greek Sferomachia and the Roman Harpastum, but the legendary turning point occurred on February 17, 1530, when Florentines, besieged by the troops of Charles V, took to the field in Piazza Santa Croce to play a match "in mockery of the enemy," proving that the city would not surrender. Since then, this historic game has been a symbol of civic pride.

The four quarters

The city is still divided into its four historic quarters, each with its own color and patron basilica:

• Azzurri (Blues) — Santa Croce
• Bianchi (Whites) — Santo Spirito
• Rossi (Reds) — Santa Maria Novella
• Verdi (Greens) — San Giovanni

The two semi-finals are held in mid-June; the winners compete for the title in the grand final on June 24th. Each team fields 27 players who face off in a 50-minute match with no holds barred: the goal is to get the ball into the opposing net (the "caccia"), with the unique rule that a missed shot over the net awards half a point to the opponents.

More than just a game

Calcio Storico is not just a sport: it is a major popular festival that culminates in the Historical Pageant of the Florentine Republic, a parade of over five hundred participants in Renaissance costumes—soldiers, flag-wavers, musicians, and noblewomen—marching through the center of Florence to Piazza Santa Croce, which is transformed for the occasion into a sandy arena surrounded by grandstands.

The feast of Saint John

The final is traditionally played on June 24th, the feast of Saint John the Baptist, the patron saint of Florence, as part of the city's grand celebrations that conclude in the evening with the famous fireworks over the Arno river. For visitors in the city during these days, witnessing the Calcio Storico—or even just the passing of the pageant—means experiencing the most ancient and proud soul of Florence.