Torneo dei Rioni

The Torneo dei Rioni of San Giovanni Valdarno

The Torneo dei Rioni is one of the most anticipated events of the summer in San Giovanni Valdarno, a key town in the Upper Valdarno area in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany. It is a basketball tournament featuring the four districts into which the city is ideally divided, turning the elegant Piazza Masaccio into an open-air basketball arena for a few nights, complete with grandstands and organized fan bases.

The four competing districts

The city is divided into four teams, each identified by a color and a set of neighborhoods and hamlets:

• Rione Nord (Red) — Ponte alle Forche, Calambrone, Monteceneri. The team that dominated the first three editions of the tournament.
• Rione Ovest (Yellow) — Historic center and Fornaci.
• Rione Est (Green) — Oltrarno and Badiola.
• Rione Sud (Blue) — Bani, Gruccia, and Lucheria.

The format is a multi-day elimination tournament with evening matches culminating in the final for first and second place. The atmosphere is that of a village festival with a sporting twist: good-natured local rivalry, chants, colorful jerseys, and a turnout that involves entire families.

A growing event

Born just a few years ago, the Torneo dei Rioni has quickly established itself as one of the signature events of Giugno Sport, the program through which the Municipality of San Giovanni Valdarno brings the city to life for an entire month, from May 30th to June 28th, with various disciplines and initiatives for all ages. After the first two editions hosted at the Don Bosco oratory, the tournament moved to the heart of the city, Piazza Masaccio, where a multifunctional court and a grandstand are set up to welcome the public.

Sport that builds community

More than just a competition, the Torneo dei Rioni reflects the bond between the local community and its territory: each district brings its own neighborhood, hamlets, and fans to the court. Promoted by the Municipality of San Giovanni Valdarno in collaboration with local sports associations, the event combines the competitive spirit of basketball with the pleasure of social life in the square, in one of the most vibrant cities in the province of Arezzo and all of Tuscany.