Arezzo is a city with many interesting traditions and celebrations. It’s a fantastic place where tourists can see festivities that have appeared yet in the middle ages. Generations of local people have cherished traditions of their predecessors, so they try to follow all rituals and keep them unchanged for centuries. Giostra del Saracino or Joust of the Saracen is, without a doubt, one of the most interesting national celebrations. The event takes place two times a year – on the third weekend of June and the first weekend of September.
According to the historical data, the first tournament was held in August 1535. The first holiday was dedicated to St. Donatus, the patron of the city. However, some scientists think that competitions of such kind appeared much earlier in Arezzo. The tournament resembles the traditional entertainment of knights, who polished their skills by piercing rag dolls with spears. Steadily, regular training of knights became a popular celebration, and many local people gathered to see it. The tournament was revived at the beginning of the 20th century, and, currently, it is one of the most famous and popular events in Tuscan.
Read further...