Colourful flags of the Porta Crucifera hang from a house in Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy, a few weeks before September’s Giostra del Saracino (Saracens’ Joust) in the city. The Porta Crucifera is one of Arezzo’s four quartieri (historic districts) that compete against each other in the Giostra.
Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy: flags of the Porta Crucifera hanging from a house in the historic centre of the city. The Giostra del Saracino (Saracens’ Joust) is held twice a year, on the third Saturday in June and first Sunday in September in Piazza Grande in the centre of Arezzo. Citizens dress in medieval costume as eight knights for the four quarters (quartieri) or historic districts of the city - Porta del Foro, San Andrea, Porta Santo Spirito, and Porta Crucifera - compete against each other in a joust to win the Golden Lance or Lancia d’oro. Each knight has to hit the shield of the ‘Buratto’, a wooden figure which represents the King of Indies. The event has its origins in the Middle Ages and may be considered an evolution of military training exercises for knights. It was supposed to simulate battle: the knights practiced using their lance on a “puppet” who represented the enemy. During the time of the Crusades, the enemy was the Saracens or Moors.
Size: 4214px × 2848px
Location: Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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