The world’s most violent game

The "Calcio Storico”, historical football, is a medieval ancestor of a fusion between modern rugby, street fighting and football. Dating back to the 16th century and still played every summer in Florence. 

Four teams, formed by 27 players each, named after four colors (white, red, green and blue) and representing respectively the four neighborhoods of Santo Spirito, Santa Maria Novella, San Giovanni and Santa Croce, face each other every year in the beautiful setting of Santa Croce square under a merciless Tuscan sun, using each part of their body. For injured, no substitutions are allowed, thats why the players, even if with broken bones, keep playing in the field for those endless 50 minutes of the game. 

There are a few rules, but choking, punching, and are allowed, making Calcio Storico a unique sport experience of medieval brutality.

 

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