Summer 2010

Palio Argentario

Summer 2010 : August, 15th Since 1937 every year in Porto Santo Stefano it takes the Marine Racing called Palio Marinaro of Argentario. It's a race where 4 rowing boats, on behalf of the four Rioni of the town Croce, Fortezza, Pilarella and Valle challenge themselves to a back-breaking competition long 4000 metres. Legend has it that this race is born during the Spanish garrisons when a fishing boat was able to escape from Saracen pirates, rowing very hard. Before the beginning of The Palio, along the streets there is an historical parade with characters dressed in period costumes.

Rispescia Festambiente International Festival of Ecology and Solidarity

Summer 2010 : Like every year, in this Summer there is the new appointment with the Event Festambiente, the festival dedicated to the Nature and the Good living, sponsored by the association Legambiente. In the In the marvellous setting of the Natural Park of Maremma, among vineyards and hills of olive groves, it will be 10 days of music, cinema, entertainment and theatre.
For further information, contact offices in: Enaoli - Rispescia (Grosseto) Tel. +39/0564/48771 fax +39/0564/487740 ; email: info@festambiente.it

Balestro del Girifalco in Massa Marittima

Summer 2010 in Massa Marittima: 9 august in the attempt to recall the ancient tradition of the exercise of the crossbow, in Massa Marittima every year it's organised a competition between the Terzieri called "Balestro del Girifalco". Balestra del Girifalco This contest is staged twice a year: on the 4th Sunday of May and on the 2nd Sunday of August. The contest is opened with a pageant, featuring over 150 partecipants, all dressed in reproduced medieval clothes. 24 crossbowmen partecipate into the contest, 8 archers for each of the 3 quarters called Terzieri (Cittanuova, Cittavecchia e Borgo) in which is divided Massa Marittima since 1225, the date of its constitution as a Free City. The arrows are shot with old italian style crossbows, accurate copies of their 15th century ancestors. After having loaded his weapon with the "Girello" or "Martinetto", the marksman takes his place on the bench and aims at the target called "corniolo", which is placed 36 meters away. The Corniolo is a conical shaped piece of wood, 42cm in height, with a diameter of 13cm and with its smaller end fitted to a black painted disc of 45cm in diameter. The whole assembly is attached in the center of the large "Girifalco". The winner is the crossbowman whose arrow hits the target nearest to the center. He is rewarded with a symbolic golden arrow and his Terziere will receive the large painted silk banner.