Calcio Storico 2025
Calcio Fiorentino or Calcio in Costume - better known in Florence as Calcio Storico - is a traditional "football" game dating back to the 15th century. A violent mix of football, soccer, wrestling, rugby, with a little boxing for good measure, the tournament is played in medieval costume every year from mid to late June.
Calendar of Matches
2025
- Semifinal 1: Saturday, June 14th (Rossi vs Azzurri)
- Semifinal 2: Sunday, June 15th (Bianchi vs Verdi)
- Final: Tuesday, June 24th
The event takes place in Florence's Piazza Santa Croce, where the piazza is transformed into a playing field with a thick layer of sand under the players and bleacher-style stands for the spectators:

The four teams consist of players from four areas of the city: Santa Croce ("Azzurri" or Blues); Santa Maria Novella ("Rossi" or Reds); Santo Spirito ("Bianchi" or Whites); and San Giovanni ("Verdi" or Greens). Needless to say, passionate loyalties fuel the ruthlessness of the tournament.
Before each game, a long procession of the players, flag throwers, drummers, and other Florentine citizens all dressed in historical costumes starts from Piazza Santa Maria Novella and slowly makes its way to Piazza della Signoria, down Via de'Neri, and then up Via dei Benci until it finally reaches Piazza Santa Croce. The comradery, pageantry, costumes and trumpets are quite impressive and worth watching even if you don't have the stomach (or tickets - which are usually very hard to come by) to watch the actual game.
For a real sense of the atmosphere of the event, here is a well-done video of the Calcio Storico:
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