“Joust of Saracino” in Arezzo 22-23 June 2012

Most people know the Palio in Siena as the most famous historical parade and contest in Tuscany, but less people know the “Joust of Saracino” is a chivalrous game originating in the medieval times and recalling the secular struggle of the occidental Christianity to hold back the Muslims. 

The joust is held in Arezzo in the beautiful Piazza Grande during the penultimate Saturday of June and the first Sunday in September. The joust is the evolution of a military exercise simulating a battle. A knight armed with a lance will face the Buratto King of India, having the appearance of the stereotyped enemy as he appeared to the occidental Christian: the Arab, the unfaithful, the Saracino; against him eight ”champions” from the four quarters that originally divided the city: the Porta Crucifera quarter, Porta S. Spirito quarter, the Porter del Foro quarter and the Porta S. Andrea quarter.

The Saracino holds a shield on his left arm with a sign which the others should try to hit with the lance and he will have to defend himself with a scourge in the right hand constructed with three leather balls each with the weight of 250 gram. When he’s hit, the Saracino turn around and try to hit the knight on the shoulder.

Historical Parade in Piazza Grande

The winning couple is the one who manage to collect the largest number of points hitting Saracino’s shield and the prize, "Lancia d'Oro" (the Golden Lance), goes to their quarter. If two quarters would gather the same points they will have to play again. Who’s going to win is uncertain up until the last minute and the game contains many turning points depending of the ability, the bravery and the luck of who’s involved in the joust in the Piazza Grande. The opening of the event take place in the morning with the reading of the announcement by Araldo followed by the multicoloured historic procession passing along the streets of the city and represented by 350 people dressed with fourteenth century clothing and 27 horses; the most important moment of the procession is the benediction of the participants on the stairs of the Dome by the bishop of Arezzo. The joust is opened by the flag-wavers, and then the procession enters accompanied by the applause of the public. Musicians from the “Gruppo Musici” will play on their drums and their instruments during the whole event. The musicians don’t use sheet music but play by ear and learn by heart memorizing the pieces and they are much appreciated not only in Italy but also abroad. 
(Courtesy of Toscana & Chianti News for the description of the event.

Noble Palace overlooking the main Square

Here, as in Siena, you can buy tickets to assist to the event in the square or outside the crowd in the noble buildings overlooking onto it. Wonderful apartments welcome tourists and travellers to have a magical view from above.

This allows this event to be attended by families or elderly people who do not like being in the crowd, without commodities for a few hours.

Moreover, each quarter is arranging historical dinners which takes places in the outings of the historical centre.

I highly recommend this event as a minor one, but yet very exciting and compelling. You'll be back in time and have the chance to visit one of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany. Arezzo, in fact, is very famous to locals for its antiques market, yet superior to the one in Lucca. Moreover, who can forget about the Prada outlet just outside town? 

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