Calcio Storico Fiorentino

I turned on the television to find an interesting spectacle unfolding, the Calcio Storico Fiorentino, historical Florentine football. What grabbed my attention was a parade of drummers, trumpeters and other men dressed in medieval costumes. I was curious to see what the parade was all about so sat down on my upholstered pew to watch. Eventually two groups of similarly dressed men were paraded into a large padded square with a dirt floor surrounded by metal bleachers. Players from two teams assembled on the field attired in knee length, medieval styled shorts. The top of the shorts was flat and solid colored, some decorated with a large white square with a black symbol printed on it. I thought perhaps the square identified their playing position on the field or something, and not every player had one. At the top of the thighs the shorts ballooned out voluminously in colorful stripes (red and blue for one team, and purple and green for the other) ending in a tight band at the knee. Colorful tights and black athletic shoes finished the bottom of the uniform. On top, players wore a colored, short sleeved t-shirt which some of the muscular players had altered by removing one or both sleeves, or eschewed entirely preferring to expose their fit and buff chests. There must have been 50 players on the field and several officials. The ball was basketball sized and striped red and white. Players ran around and passed the ball with their hands and seemed to be able to score by throwing the ball into a small opening between the padded boards and the high fence enclosing the field. At either end of the field was a narrow opening protected by a draped, pointy-topped, Arabian Nights tent-like structure protected by a glove wearing behemoth. To my eyes, the strangest things was that at various points on the field couples, made up of a member from each team, were frozen into a variety of embracing and wrestling-style holds in standing, kneeling, or prone positions. I never did figure out what that was all about. I noticed that both whole and half points could be scored in the game. Of course there was a fair amount of physical contact and play could be stopped by officials waving a brightly colored wand topped with large feathers. There was so much testosterone oozing off the field and through the television from these masculine figures that I had to shave my newly-sprouting beard at least two intervals.

Last night Laura, Maria’s daughter, and I took an evening walk through town and into the park while enjoying some Nutella gelato, although she was of the opinion that not nearly enough Nutella was mixed into the gelato. I think she likes her Nutella straight from the jar. She is very nice and we’ve shared some enjoyable girl talk. I shall miss her when I leave!

I located a smaller suitcase in town and am trying to determine if I can get all my things into it. It does not have the roller wheels which would allow me to move it sideways in the narrow train aisle the way my current suitcase does, however it’s shorter and should be easier to lift off and on the train. I may take the bus down to Camucia (kah-moo-SHEE-a) to see what other choices I might have before I make the financial commitment.

No rain today, but there are dark gray clouds hovering overhead blocking the warm sun. There is supposed to be more rain the next couple of days. Nothing new there!

Oops! I just heard drums marching up the street. By the time I reached the piazza there was a flag throwing demonstration going on. These were not our beloved Cortona young people, but mature men from other cities. I saw one with the Florentine symbol on his tunic and flag. I suppose others were from the larger cities in the area, Siena and Arezzo, for example. Their skill with the flags was impressive and they performed some complicated maneuvers. The show lasted about 15 minutes and I am not sure of its purpose, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.