In the heart of Florence a sport unknown by much of the world, Calcio Storico Fiorentino, is played every year prepped by round the clock training in anticipation for the big event . Ask around in any country outside of Italy and this sport is pretty much unknown. Italians from other cities may be clueless to the event as well, but to Florentines, Calcio Storico Fiorentino has a rich and cherished history and has become the pride and joy of the local community.
The Most Violent Sport in the World
During a recent trip to Florence, our team was lucky enough to come across a man who knew almost everything there is to know about Calcio Storico Fiorentino. His name is Eric and he works in one of the shops lining Piazza Santa Croce, where the annual game of Calcio Storico is played. During our conversation, he recited the whole, in-depth history of Calcio Storico, which dates back around 500 years.
Eric was able to provide us a better understanding and visual concept as to how violent the sport actually gets.
He explained that men are recruited from boxing gyms to play, and they train all year long. To give you an even better idea, “Sometimes it looks like Royal Rumble, MMA Royal Rumble, not just WWE Royal Rumble.” The difference, though, is in other sports, such as boxing or mixed martial arts, there are rounds with breaks and referees who will put an end to the fighting if necessary. There are also a lot of limitations to how you can strike your opponent, such as no hair pulling, biting, or eye gouging. It’s amazing that a seemingly deadly sport is so beloved and popular. We wondered how there are little to no restrictions, so we decided to ask Eric. He clarified that in recent years people have attempted to make the rules a little stricter to lower the risk involved, but in his words, “It’s still a very manly spectacle. So, the spirit is still on.”
Listen to our interview with Florence local Eric, talking about Calcio Fiorentino Storico.
A Brief Explanation of Calcio Storico Fiorentino
The sport resembles a mixture of soccer, rugby, and wrestling. One of the most notable aspects of the sport is the aggression and violence that is brought about while attempting to score a “cacce.” Punching, kicking, pushing, wrestling, head-butting, and choking are all allowed in order to deter the other team from getting the ball across the field. There are a couple of restrictions, such as only fighting one-on-one and no punches or kicks to the head. Despite these few limitations, the sport turns into an all-out brawl for 50 minutes with no time-outs, substitutions, or disqualifications. This gruesome sport has landed players in the hospital for months afterwards. If you can’t already tell, this historic match might just be the most violent sport today. However, it is only played three times a year during the month of June in Florence. If you are fortunate enough to see a game, make sure you take in the history and uniqueness of what you are witnessing. Beware though, Calcio Storico Fiorentino is often referred to as the most brutal sport in the world as it tends to get very bloody and very messy, so you may not want the best seats in the house for this match!