On the week September 1st to 7th, 2025 – as usual on the first week of September – Arezzo hosts the 148th edition of the Giostra del Saracino, a historical re-enactment in medieval costume in which the city’s four districts challenge each other.
Giostra del Saracino is one of the most sumptuous of the many Italian folk festivals due to its rich and exciting choreography, with a Historical Parade of over 300 costumed figures accompanied by a group of musicians and 39 flag-wavers.
The program includes race trials from Monday to Friday, the marking of the horses on Saturday and the Joust on Sunday, with a program that starts in the morning.
In the Giostra 8 knights (two per District) challenge each other to hit the Buratto’s shield (Buratto is impersonating the “King of the Indies”) with the spear at the end of a fast galloping career (less than 5 seconds) without being hit by the flail, shouldered by Buratto.
The Buratto is a spring-loaded metal puppet, with a shield in his left hand and a flail (medieval weapon with three wooden balls) in his right.
The Giostra del Saracino occurs twice a year: the penultimate Saturday of June (Giostra di San Donato) and the first Sunday of September (Giostra della Madonna del Conforto).
USEFUL INFORMATION
See the September program>>>
Buy your ticket by July 15th>>>
For more information, call +39 0575/377462-3
or send a mail>>>
See also the website>>> and the facebook page>>>
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What to do after the Joust?
See on ItalybyEvents further events and places to visit in Tuscany>>>
And enjoy the traditional food and the excellent wines>>>
