This ancient tournament finds its roots in the Middle Age. Crusades gallop at full speed, holding their spear, towards the effigy of a Saracen warrior. The four Quartieri (town parts) challenge each other in a mix of ability, power, precision and luck. The knights head at full speed (if the attempt is too slow the knight is penalised) for the armored automaton that represents the Saracen (called “buratto”), and hits his shield with their wooden spear. The impact is extremely violent; the buratto spins around and tries to whip the knight with three balls of lead covered with leather (the “mazzafrusto”). The knight through the impact wants to score as much as he can: the shield of the Saracen is in fact a scoreboard, and different points are being assigned according to the impact spot. Points can be deducted in case of accidents like falling from the horse, losing the spear, riding too slowly, being hit by the mazzafrusto. The score is doubled if the knight breaks the spear on impact. And the most important thing is to win the enemy's respect: the knight who touches the Saracen in any spot outside the shield is banned for life.
After each attempt judges examine the shield, “read” the result and they announce it at the square, where everybody is waiting. Each announcement is followed by an explosion of emotion from joy to taunt, from desperation to hope. The four Quartieri are all on the square, very close to each other, they can neither influence judges nor fate, but knights and horses...
In the square everyone wears (magnificent) historical costumes, including cameramen and photographers. Before the Giostra an impressive historical parade moves from the old town roads to the Piazza Grande, where it reaches a climax and where the Giostra will take place. The highlight of this parade is the exhibition of the Sbandieratori (Flag Weavers) of Arezzo, known all over the world to be among the best: http://www.sbandieratori.arezzo.it/
The June edition takes place at night, and this adds a special flair to the event. In September the given day is the same as the one of the Fiera Antiquaria (antique market), known as one of the richest and most sought after by connoisseurs on the continent: http://www.arezzofieraantiquaria.org/
