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Jousting of the Saracens in Arezzo
(Giostra Del Saracino - The first contest) |
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When:
Jun 18, 2011
Where: Piazza Grande, Arezzo, Italy
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In the Middle Age, on the 14th century, the people of Rome called the residents of the countries located on the east side of the Roman Empire; Persians, Turkish, Arabs and all the Muslims by the name Saracens. The tension between the two religions created hard battles in which the Christians defeated the Muslims.
The perpetuation of the Christianity victory over the Islam started in the beginning of the 16th century with two festive contests that restore the battles between the Christians and the Saracens.
The first contest is held on the third Saturday of June in honor of the patron of Arezzo. Thus it is called "Giostra di (Jousting of) San Donato".
The second contest is held on the first Sunday of September.
The competitors ride as a group on eight horses dressed as knights from the Middle Age. Every couple of knights represent one of the four quarters of the city. The knights have to strike, with theirs lance, the Saracen figure. It is made of wood and its upper body is covered with armor. The figure is rotate pivotally. Five points, numbered from one to five, are marked on the Saracen figure. The couple who succeeds to hurt the image most possible times and so obtained the biggest number of the points is the winner.
The encouraging audience represent every quarter. They stand around the Piazza Grande where every quarter has its own corner separated from the other quarters. The winning quarter gets a golden lance in addition to the great honor.
Thousands of spectators attend the Piazza Grande and experience the unique event which returns it hundred years back in time.
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Watch Video:
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IMPORTANT:
Please note that the details of the event are subject to change.
We strongly recommended that you check with the organizers
before making any travel arrangements.
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Event related information:
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Comune di Arezzo
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Contact:
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giostradelsaracino@comune.arezzo.it
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Istituzione Giostra del Saracino
Servizio Turismo, Giostra del Saracino e Folclore
Comune di Arezzo
Piazza della Libertà, 1 - 52100 AREZZO (AR)
Tel. +39 (0) 575 377462
Fax +39 (0) 575 377464
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| Admission fee: |
Free |
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background and overview:
Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His disastrous alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with the prosperous north.
[Courtesy of The World Factbook]
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 Location: Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia. |
Languages:
Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area). |
Climate:
Predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south. |
Capital:
Rome |
Time Zone:
UTC+1 (Summer UTC+2) |
Currency (code):
Euro (EUR) |
Call Code:
+39 |
Electric Power:
230V 50Hz |
Tourist office:
Ente Nazionale Italiano per il Turismo (ENIT), Or Rome Tourist office Phone: +39 06 67104526 |
Tourist website:
Click Here |
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