Tuscany · Grosseto
Massa Marittima
85 km from Florence · pop. 8,139
Context for Massa Marittima is being verified from official sources.
Annual calendar · 2
May 24· verify before attending
Crossbow Tournament (May)Balestro del Girifalco (maggio)
Held twice a year — fourth Sunday of May and second Sunday of August — Massa Marittima's three terzieri compete in medieval crossbow archery in front of the cathedral. Ten archers per terziere fixed-distance shots at a wooden falcon. Costume processions drum corps banner throwing fill the morning. The town has been hosting versions of this since the thirteenth century.
Aug 9· verify before attending
Crossbow Tournament (August)Balestro del Girifalco (agosto)
The August edition of Massa Marittima's crossbow tournament runs the second Sunday of August. Same three terzieri as May same fixed-distance shots but the August one is the rematch — and the cobbles bake at a different angle. Banner-throwers and drum corps fill the morning the contest itself is short and tense.
Sources
Event details may change. Verify directly with the official source before traveling.