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SIENA: The Palio is the Tuscany's most celebrated festival and takes place on July 2nd and August 16th each year in the Campo. It is a bareback horse race and was first recorded in 1283, but may have its origins in Roman military training. The jockeys represent the 17 contrade (parishes) or district: the horses are chosen by the drawing of straws and are blessed at the local contrada churces. The races are preceded by heavy betting and pageantry, but only last about 90 seconds each. The winner is awarded a palio (banner). . PISA: Gioco del Ponte. This sham fight between the people leaving the opposite sides of the Arno takes place on the last Sunday in June, on the ponte di Mezzo. After a colourful procession in the 16th and 17th century costume, the combatants use contraptions on rails in an attempts to take the bridge. The "Gioco del Ponte" is the high point of "Giugno Pisano", which also includes a regatta and the "Festa di San Ranieri", a candelight festival on the banks of the Arno commemorating the city's patron saint. AREZZO: Giostra del Saracino: the Saracen Tournament. Piazza Grande in Arezzo is the scene of this joust. Held on the first Sunday in September, this tournament dates back to the Crusades in the Middle Ages, when all Christendom dedicated itself to driving the North African Arabs (the Moors) out of Europe. There are lively and colorful procession to precede the event, in which eight costumed knights charge towards wooden effigy of the Saracen. The aim is to try to hit the Saracen's shield with lances. Each pair of knights represents one of Arezzo's four rival districts and their supporters occupy a side each of the plaza. They are quite when their own district knights are jousting, but make as much noise as possible to distract the opposition. The winner receives a gold lance. Read about Arezzo. FLORENCE: Calcio Storico. This historical football match, held on the Piazza Santa Croce, takes place three times in June and july (always on 24 June, the day of the city's patron saint, John the Baptist). It commemorates a similar match played by soldier trapped in the city in 1530. FLORENCE: Scoppio del Carro. On Easter Sunday a cart (carro) decorated with flowers and loaded with fireworks is set up between the baptistery and the Duomo. A mechanical dove swoops out of the cathedral door and into the cart: if the fireworks ignite, it bodes a good year. PISTOIA: Giostra dell'Orso. After a magnificient procession held on 25 July every year, 12 knight take part in the medieval jousting tournament; the aim is to hit two stylised bears with their lances to the sound of drum rolls and fanfares. The bear (orso) is the heraldic animal of Pistoia and the Giostra is the highlight of the towns's "Luglio Pistoiese" festival. SANSEPOLCRO: Palio dei Balestrieri. In May the crossbowmen of Sansepolcro travel to Gubbio (Umbria) for a contest. On the second Sunday in September the crossbowmen of Gubbio return the visit. 
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