Disfida degli Arcieri di Terra e Corte Archery Tournament

A challenge dating back to 1572

The Disfida degli Arcieri di Terra e Corte is one of the most evocative historical re-enactments in Lunigiana, the northernmost corner of Tuscany. The event commemorates a contest that actually took place in 1572 in Fivizzano's main square, now known as Piazza Medicea (Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II), when the soldiers of the Terra district—the urban heart of the village—competed against those from the Corte, the surrounding villages: Guardia, Verrucola, Fittadisio, and Montechiaro. According to the accounts of Friar Tommaso da Fivizzano, the competition was held to select the best archers for military service.

The five districts and the palio

The heart of the Disfida is the archery competition: five archers from each district compete by trying to hit targets placed thirty meters away using wooden bows, following period rules. The festival begins with the presentation of weapons to the Captain, who, after taking an oath, assigns the shooting order; at the end of the matches, the winning district claims the coveted palio. The five competing districts are Terra, Guardia, Verrucola, Fittadisio, and Montechiaro.

The village returns to the Renaissance

For three days, Fivizzano transforms into an open-air stage. The streets and squares, decorated with flags and festive spirit, welcome an impressive historical procession in 16th-century costumes, featuring musicians, halberdiers, flag-bearers, ladies, knights, and commoners. The event is enlivened by the flag-wavers of the Gruppo Storico di Fivizzano, Renaissance music and dance ensembles, as well as jugglers and fire-eaters. There is also a craft market and food stalls offering typical products from the Lunigiana region.

The Gruppo Storico di Fivizzano

The re-enactment, which has been held regularly since the 1970s, owes much to the Gruppo Storico di Fivizzano, founded in 1983 when the flag-wavers were joined by Renaissance music and dance groups. Today, over 400 costumed participants bring one of the most vibrant pages of popular tradition in the province of Massa-Carrara to life.

Fivizzano, the "Florence of Lunigiana"

Nicknamed the "Florence of Lunigiana" for its noble palaces and Medici elegance, the Municipality of Fivizzano rises among the Apennine mountains, in the province of Massa-Carrara, in Tuscany. Its Piazza Medicea, with the fountain commissioned by Cosimo III, serves as the natural setting for the Disfida and is one of the most beautiful squares in the entire region.