La Scheggia Holiday

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The “Fiera Antiquaria” takes place every month in the wonderful scenery of Piazza Grande and in the small streets nearby. The first edition dates back to June 2nd, 1968. About 500 exhibitors coming from all over Italy meet there every first Sunday of each month and the preceding Saturday. You can find furniture, ceramics, pieces of China, jewels, glassware, fabrics, watches, sculptures, paintings, iron and copper items, as well as trinkets of all sorts.

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The joust known as the Giostra dell'Archidado revokes the wedding between Francesco Casali, Lord of Cortona, and the noblewoman Antonia Salimbeni of Siena, which took place in1397. It is a contest of skill between archers for the conquest of the golden arrow. Over 250 costumed figures. Processions and religious reconstructions from the first day. The contest is held in Piazza Signorelli.

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It has been a tradition since the Middle Ages that every year in May the crossbowmen from Sansepolcro go to Gubbio to compete in honour of Saint Ubaldo, and on the second Sunday of September the crossbowmen from Gubbio return their visit and compete in honour of Saint Egidio. The crossbowmen from Sansepolcro and participants to the procession wear Renaissance costumes reproducing those of the frescoes by Piero della Francesca. The target of the crossbow shooting is called “corniolo” and is located at a distance of 36 meters from the crossbow. A special jack is employed to bend the crossbows. During the shooting the weapons are laid on a particular bench owing to their heavy weight.

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It is an ancient knights' tournament which has its roots in the Middle Ages. The tournament was held frequently in Arezzo between the sixteenth and the seventeenth century. The colourful procession, involving more than three hundred participants, winds through the streets of the city, accompanied by musicians and Arezzo's famous "Sbandieratori" standard wavers, before going into Piazza Grande, one of the most characteristic squares in Italy where the tournament will take place. The horsemen charge the huge effigy of the Saracen at a full gallop and armed with lances. The tournament is enlivened by continual turns of events, determined by the skill and by the luck of eight jousters, two from each quarter. The quarter whose horsemen get the highest score on the shield of the Saracen wins the Golden Lance, the prized trophy made each year by an Aretine craftsman. The joust as such is preceded in the morning by the "bollatura" (identification and acceptance) of the horses that will participate in the afternoon tournament and by the reading of the proclamation in the most important squares within the area of the historical center.