# Calcio Fiorentino! **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [December 3, 2006, 8:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calcio-fiorentino/21095 "2006-12-03T20:45:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vq30de](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9dc877/32.png) [@vq30de](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/vq30de)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2006, 8:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calcio-fiorentino/21095/1 "2006-12-03T20:45:32Z")
Is quite possibly the most raw sport I have ever seen. I saw it the other night on Globe Trekker on PBS. _[i][color=black]Calcio storico fiorentino_ means “historic [[color=black]Florentine](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Florentine) [soccer](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=soccer).” It is a wonderfully brutal reenactment of an early version of soccer. It is held annually in the historic [piazza](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=piazza)s of [Florence](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Florence), [Italy](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Italy). The four quarters of the city hold a tournament to win the _[palio](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=palio)_, or prize, which is an [ox](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=ox). [/color] Each quarter’s team is referred to by the name of the quarter of the city, as well as by their colors. - Santa Croce / azzurro (blue) - Santa Maria Novella / rosso (red) - Santo Spirito / biancho (white) - San Giovanni / verde (green) **Often, the cheers during a match directed from one quarter to another are unabashedly** [[color=black] **obscene** ](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=obscene) **, such as one chanted to the Santa Croce squad thus:** [/color] _ **Azzurro, azzurro, va fa’n culo!** _ _**(Blue, blue, go** [[color=black] **fuck** ](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=fuck) **yourself in the** [**anus**](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=anus)**)** [/color]_ Or this one towards the poor “greens” of San Giovanni: _San Giovani, Giovani, figli di puttane!_ _(San Giovanni, Giovani, sons of [[color=black]whore](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=whore)s!) [/color]_ Originally played as a post [[color=black]Lent](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Lent)en celebration in the 1500’s, _calcio storico_ fell into disuse with a final match played in 1739. Under the [fascist](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=fascist) regime of [Benito Mussolini](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Benito%20Mussolini), _calcio storico_ was revived almost 200 years later in 1930 as a glorification of [Italian](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Italian) [culture](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=culture). [/color] Each squad consists of 27 players. The goal stretches the width of the field at each end, with points scored thus: - Ball in goal = 2 points for scoring team - Ball over goal = 1/2 point for opposing team There are no other discernible [[color=black]rules](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=rules). Unlike modern [soccer](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=soccer), there are no restrictions concerning parts of the body that may be used to strike the ball. **Likened to a combination of** [**wrestling**](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=wrestling) **,** [**rugby**](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=rugby) **, and** [**soccer**](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=soccer) **, _calcio storico_ when played looks like a mass riot.** [/color] The game is approximately 50 minutes in duration. **The** [[color=black] **referee** ](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=referee) **carries a** [**sword**](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=sword) **and needs it. Typically, the only reason** [**fist**](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=fist) **fights on the field cease is because the referee throws the ball high into the air thus presenting an opportunity to score for the greater** [**glory**](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=glory) **of the _quartiere_; much scrambling, including thrown elbows, fists, and knees, ensues.** [/color] _Calcio storico fiorentino_ is a mix of [[color=black]brutality](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=brutality) and [beauty](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=beauty). A parade of the [nobles](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=nobles) and officials of [Florence](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Florence), all wearing [medieval](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=medieval) costume, precedes the event. Many of those marching are the direct descendents of the [Medici](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Medici) and other noble [Florentine](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Florentine) families of the city’s past. The players complete the [pageantry](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=pageantry) by competing in short [pantaloon](http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=pantaloon)s and otherwise authentic costume. [/color] This vid isnt nearly as BA as what I saw on TV, but ignore the old timey shit and watch the dudes annhilate each other… [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsRqSNSjy3E](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsRqSNSjy3E) [/i][/color]