The Penn State Human Development and Family Studies summer program at ISI Florence recently attended a lecture by Professor Erika Bianchi as part of the commitment to provide rich cultural experiences for students. Professor Bianchi, an expert in Sport History and Culture, delivered a talk on “Calcio Storico Fiorentino”.
Calcio Storico Fiorentino: Origins & Game
The sport of “Calcio Storico Fiorentino”, which translates into historical Florentine football, dates back to the Roman game of harpastum, played by gladiators as training. The modernized version of this sport has been played in Florence since 1530 when the city was under siege by the army of Emperor Charles V. In a bold act of defiance, the Florentines organized a game on February 17, 1530, in full view of the surrounding troops, showing their resilience and unity.
Despite its reputation for being chaotic and violent, Calcio Storico Fiorentino has a clear structure and rules.
It’s a three-game tournament, with four teams, each representing a neighborhood of Florence.
- Santa Croce – Azzurri (blue)
- San Giovanni – Verde (green)
- Santa Maria Novella – Rossi (red)
- Santo Spirito – Bianchi (white)
Neighborhoods of Florence
Walk in these wonderful neighborhoods and appreciate the different areas of the city.
Each team has 27 players, with no replacements allowed; the games are 50 minutes long with no breaks, and the aim is to score goals (caccia) by getting the ball into the opponent’s goal area.
Players use a mix of techniques from American football, rugby, and soccer, they can run with the ball, kick it, or pass it, and one-on-one fights are allowed to take out opponents.
Each match is kicked off with a parade through the streets of Florence, The games take place in Piazza Santa Croce, which is transformed into a sandy arena.
Calcio Storico is considered one of the toughest sports globally. Players know that injuries are likely, often involving broken bones and excessive bleeding, which has even led to game suspensions. Despite, the physical pain, participants compete for their neighborhood’s honor and glory.
There are no significant rewards, with winners traditionally receiving a cow, a symbolic prize, or even a free pizza.
The Calcio Storico Fiorentino is more than just a game; it is a vibrant expression of Florentine pride and historical legacy!
We interviewed a Penn State HDFS student, who attended the lecture and was happy to share her feedback with us.
“It was highly unusual. I knew nothing about it until I took this class. I was truly interested in the lecture on Calcio Storico Fiorentino because it is a centuries-old tradition and I wanted to learn as much as I could. I had trouble understanding how people would want to do this. Listening to Erika’s talk, I learned about the different neighborhoods of Florence and the relationships between them. The sport itself is so unusual and unlike anything I had ever heard about!
I happened to walk past Piazza Santa Croce today and I saw the big arena stands. A couple of weeks ago I wouldn’t have known what was happening, but now I do!”
Irwin Paulette