Colors of Arezzo - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

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.

The celebration starts with a solemn procession of knights. As a rule, nearly three hundred people in antique costumes participate in it. Local people take on fancy dresses and walk on the main streets of the city. Equestrians with colorful flags finish the procession. The area near the cathedral is the epicenter of the celebration. The bishop blesses knights, and the festive concert starts after that. The joust starts in the afternoon. As a rule, eight knights participate in it. The main aim of participants is to hit the rotating shield while moving on horseback at full tilt. The quickest and most skillful knight gets the main trophy – a beautiful golden spear. This interesting and old celebration attracts many tourists who want to indulge in the atmosphere of the medieval times at least for a day. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Of course, Giostra del Saracino is the most famous festival of Arezzo. Other events are less known, but many of them are no less interesting to attend. For example on the third Sunday of June, local people organize a feast to honor Madonna delle Grazie del Rivaio. This event, which appeared many centuries ago, usually takes place in Piazzale Garibaldi. Local people from three districts, namely Porta Romana, Porta Fiorentina, and Rione Cassero, dress in traditional costumes and parade on the main streets of the city, holding colorful flags.

The nearby town of Lucignano also has an interesting celebration - Maggiolata Lucignanese that is held on last two Sundays of May. The Maggiolata is an ancient celebration that is linked to an old Tuscan tradition of greeting the new summer season and saying goodbye to the winter. The Roman church adopted the pagan tradition of asking supreme forces for a good harvest and turned it into a wonderful holiday. Nowadays, the Maggiolata includes various parades, performances, and concerts of folk bands from different parts of Italy.

If you happen to visit Arezzo at the end of May, check the date of Rievocazione Storica della Battaglia of Scannagallo. This fantastic event is held either on the last weekend of May or on the first weekend of June in Pozzo della Chiana, a small town just 30 minutes (less than 30 kilometers) away from Arezzo. In 1554, Pozzo della Chiana was the battlefield for military actions between Florence and Siena. That war is portrayed in the famous fresco by Giorgio Vasari, Sala dei 500, and is exhibited in Florence. Local people still remember about those days, so they decided to organize a historical re-enactment. After long and careful preparation, the first re-enactment was held in 2001. Nowadays, it’s a large and very popular event that tourists will find very exciting to attend.