Volo del Grande Falco – National Historical Archery Tournament

The Volo del Grande Falco in Portoferraio

The Volo del Grande Falco is a historical archery tournament in medieval costume organized in Portoferraio, the main town of the Island of Elba, by the ASD Gli Archi del Grande Falco association. The event takes place in the town's historic center, in the province of Livorno (Tuscany), and for one day, it transforms the ancient Elban fortifications into a traditional competition field, with archers in medieval attire and targets crafted according to tradition.

A National Championship Tournament

The event is valid for the FITAST National Championship (Italian Historical Archery Federation), the federation that brings together Italian historical archers and operates in collaboration with FITARCO and CONI. The Portoferraio stage is one of the qualifying rounds that, along with other events held across the country, leads to the championship final. For this reason, it attracts numerous archery associations from all over Italy, particularly from Central Italy, for a high-level sporting challenge.

The Competition Venues

The heart of the competition takes place in two areas of Portoferraio's center:

• Linguella Archaeological Area, where the main targets are set up, with historic walls overlooking the sea framing the shooting stations;
• Grigolo Zone, which completes the competition course with additional medieval targets.

The targets are created by the association according to the FITAST philosophy, with scores increasing towards the center and a structure designed to ensure clarity in point allocation.

The Daily Program

The day begins in the morning with registration for archers at the Sala della Gran Guardia. Following this, in Piazza Cavour, there is a flag-wavers' performance, a moment of color and spectacle that also involves the group's younger members. The actual competition then kicks off in the Linguella and Grigolo areas, with shooting at medieval targets. In the afternoon, the awards ceremony for the winners of the various categories, from traditional bows to historical styles, takes place.

Sport, Re-enactment, and Territory

The Volo del Grande Falco is not just a sporting competition: it is also an opportunity to experience the historic center of Portoferraio in a re-enactment setting, amidst costumes, bows, and medieval atmospheres. The event promotes Elba's historical heritage and traditional archery, contributing to the cultural life of the Island of Elba and the Tuscan archipelago. The event is supported by the Municipality of Portoferraio, the Pro Loco, and numerous local entities.