Meet Italy's oldest and bloodiest sport
01 July 2025
Ah, Florence! A city of art, culture, and centuries-old traditions. And every year in June, a city of brutal injuries – lots of them. If you have never heard of the Florentine historic football ("calcio storico" in Italian), picture this: 54 huge men fight each other with little to no rules, combining wrestling, rugby and boxing to steal the ball from the opposite team and score a goal.
The sport originates from ancient Rome's military training, but the most iconic game occurred in 1530: while Florence was kept under siege by Charles V's troops, citizens started playing to mock the enemy, showing the invaders that they were having fun in spite of the siege. The modern version is an homage to that game, representing the symbol of the city's spirit, which no siege or attack could ever break.
After almost 500 years, last Tuesday marked the final match of the 2025 edition: to many, it was the most important event of the year. With all the broken bones, endless runs across the field by first responders, and matches occasionally interrupted after turning too violent, calcio storico is still a unique part of Florentines' identity, pride, and history.
 | Ludovica Di Meco While performing at the Firenze Rocks festival on 15 June, Weezer's frontman Rivers Cuomo commented: "I saw the calcio storico on TV. You guys are crazy. I want to do that." Well, Rivers, I am not sure that I would. But someone else might be preparing for it right now: to be strong and ready for the next battle, players have to train all year long. |
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