Gioco del Ponte

A challenge that divides Pisa in two

The Gioco del Ponte is the most famous historical re-enactment in the Municipality of Pisa, in the heart of Tuscany, and the event that brings the Pisan June to a grand close, following the Luminara di San Ranieri and the Palio di San Ranieri. Every last Saturday of June, the Ponte di Mezzo, which crosses the Arno in the historic center, becomes the battlefield where the two souls of the city face off: the Parte di Tramontana (the north bank of the river) and the Parte di Mezzogiorno (the south bank).

The origins: from Mazzascudo to the modern challenge

The roots of this event lie in the ancient Pisan Republic, when the Mazzascudo was practiced—a combat game held in what is now Piazza dei Cavalieri. It was essentially military training for the city's armed societies, conducted with clubs and shields. After centuries of interruptions and transformations, the modern version was revived in 1935, featuring characteristic 16th-century Spanish-style costumes; after another hiatus, the tradition was permanently restored in 1982 and has been repeated every year since.

Twelve Magistrature, two Parts

The city is divided into twelve Magistrature, six for each Part, each corresponding to an ancient city district:

• Parte di Tramontana: Santa Maria, San Francesco, San Michele, Mattaccini, Satiri, Calci.
• Parte di Mezzogiorno: Sant'Antonio, San Martino, San Marco, Leoni, Dragoni, Delfini.

Each Magistratura fields twenty fighters led by a Captain and a Team Leader, for a total of teams that take turns fighting on the bridge.

The Pageant and the Challenge

The event is divided into two parts. The Mostra delle Parti is an impressive historical pageant in 16th-century costume that travels along the Lungarni: over seven hundred participants, including dozens on horseback, parade before the public. This is followed by the Disfida del Ponte: the teams position themselves at the two ends of the Ponte di Mezzo and push, using their necks and shoulders but never their arms, a heavy trolley that runs on tracks placed in the center of the bridge. The Part that manages to push the trolley toward the opponent's side wins. There are six bouts and a possible tie-breaker (the so-called bella); each bout can last a few seconds or exceed twenty minutes, in an extreme test of strength and endurance.

An event to experience on the Lungarni

The Gioco del Ponte is a festival of identity that involves all of Pisa: for the Pisans, belonging to a Magistratura is a source of pride passed down from generation to generation. For the visitor, it is an opportunity to immerse themselves in the city's Renaissance atmosphere, among drums, flag-wavers, and armor, in one of the most evocative urban settings in Tuscany. The event is organized by the Associazione Gioco del Ponte together with the Municipality of Pisa.