In 1993, I documented Calcio Storico Fiorentino — one of Italy’s oldest and most intense sporting traditions. Rooted in Renaissance Florence, this historic game blends elements of soccer, rugby, and combat, transforming Piazza Santa Croce into a battleground of pride and identity.
Four city districts — Santa Croce (Azzurri), Santo Spirito (Bianchi), Santa Maria Novella (Rossi), and San Giovanni (Verdi) — face each other in matches that are as much about heritage and belonging as competition. Players, dressed in traditional 16th-century costumes, embody the fierce spirit of Florence itself: disciplined, passionate, and proud.
The event caught the attention not only for the physical confrontation but also for the ritualistic energy that defines this unique event — the faces of the crowd, the tension before the clash, and the eruption of emotion that follows.
Calcio Storico remains a vivid symbol of community and defiance — a living tradition where history, rivalry, and theater merge during the Florence Summer days.
