Scannagallo Battle Re-enactment
Three days in the 16th century in the Valdichiana, reliving the 1554 clash
About Scannagallo Battle
A battle that changed the history of Tuscany
The Battle of Scannagallo was the decisive clash fought on August 2, 1554, on the plains of the Valdichiana, between the imperial-Florentine army serving Cosimo I de' Medici and the troops of the Republic of Siena, supported by the French. The Florentine victory effectively marked the end of Sienese independence and laid the foundations for the future Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The memory of that day is immortalized in the frescoes by Giorgio Vasari in the Salone dei Cinquecento of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, and it is on the original grounds of the clash, in Pozzo della Chiana (a hamlet of Foiano della Chiana, in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany), that the great re-enactment takes place every year.
Three days in the 16th century
Organized by the Ente Scannagallo APS - Scannagallo Cultural Association, with the patronage of the Municipalities of Foiano della Chiana and Marciano della Chiana, the event involves over two hundred re-enactors from numerous Italian and international historical groups. For an entire weekend, the Valdichiana territory transforms into a large open-air theater, featuring visitable military camps, costumed processions, 15th and 16th-century music and dance, weapon demonstrations, and reconstructions of assaults and battles.
A journey through three villages
The re-enactment is not limited to a single location but winds through three centers of the Valdichiana:
- Pozzo della Chiana, the epicenter of the event, with the encampment area and the great final battle;
- Foiano della Chiana, the municipal seat, featuring the memory of the sack of the city and the gathering of historical groups in Piazza Cavour;
- Marciano della Chiana, with the evocative reconstruction of the night assault on the castle, illuminated by torches.
Atmosphere and tradition
The strength of the Battle of Scannagallo lies in the philological care of the costumes, weapons, and combat techniques, but also in the involvement of the entire Valdichiana community. Alongside the historical shows, food stalls offer typical dishes and products from the Arezzo area, with part of the proceeds donated to charity. A walk through the camps, to the sound of drums and arquebuses, allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in Renaissance Tuscany and relive a fundamental chapter of regional history.
When it takes place
The re-enactment is traditionally held in the spring, in the month of May, with three days of events culminating in the great battle on Sunday afternoon in Pozzo della Chiana. Admission to all activities is free.
Scannagallo Battle — edition 2026
The 2026 Scannagallo Battle Re-enactment took place from May 15 to 17 in the villages of the Arezzo Valdichiana, with over two hundred re-enactors from Italian and international historical groups. The event, organized by the Ente Scannagallo APS, reconstructed the 1554 clash between the Florentine army of Cosimo I de' Medici and the Franco-Sienese forces.
Three days of events: the opening of the camps and the night assault on the castle of Marciano, the memory of the sack of Foiano and the "Walk through History," leading up to the great final battle on Sunday afternoon in Pozzo della Chiana, with a historical procession and combat with swords and arquebuses. Free admission.
Programme Scannagallo Battle 2026
Friday, May 15
- 7:00 PM - Pozzo della Chiana: opening and activation of the historical camp area
- 9:45 PM - Marciano della Chiana: arrival of the Franco-Sienese army procession illuminated by torches and reconstruction of the night assault on the castle
Saturday, May 16
- 3:45 PM - Foiano della Chiana, Piazza Cavour: gathering of historical groups and remembrance of the sack of Foiano with recited passages and arquebus volleys
- 4:30 PM - "Walk through History": re-enactors accompany the public to the Temple of Santo Stefano della Vittoria in Pozzo della Chiana, with 15th and 16th-century music, dance, and combat
Sunday, May 17
- 11:00 AM - Marciano della Chiana: military maneuvers, Florentine cannon fire, and Sienese sortie attempt
- 11:30 AM - Walk from the castle of Marciano to Pozzo della Chiana with the re-enactors and the hauling of the cannons
- 5:00 PM - Pozzo della Chiana: historical procession through the streets of the village and great re-enactment of the Battle of Scannagallo, with over two hundred re-enactors, town crier narration, and combat with swords and arquebuses
Highlights Scannagallo Battle 2026
- Over 200 re-enactors from Italy and abroad
- Night assault on the castle of Marciano della Chiana illuminated by torches
- Great final battle on Sunday in Pozzo della Chiana
- Visitable historical camps, 16th-century music and dance
- Food stalls with typical Valdichiana products
Prices Scannagallo Battle 2026
Practical information — Scannagallo Battle
How to get there
By car: Pozzo della Chiana can be reached from the A1 Milan-Naples motorway, taking the Valdichiana-Bettolle/Sinalunga exit and continuing towards Foiano della Chiana and Marciano della Chiana. By train: Terontola-Cortona or Arezzo station, then local bus connections to the Valdichiana.
Admission
Access to all initiatives (camps, processions, shows, and the battle) is free.
Contacts
Ente Scannagallo APS - Associazione Culturale Scannagallo, Via Ponte al Ramo 78/C, Pozzo della Chiana. Tel. +39 0575 66681 - [email protected] - www.scannagallo.com
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Where does it take place — Scannagallo Battle
Pozzo della Chiana (campo sportivo e centro storico)
Via Ponte al Ramo 78/C, 52045 Foiano della Chiana