Giostra della Stella

The Lega di Ripoli shines again, with a dive into the Florentine Renaissance involving games between the Contrade (or, local wards), a sumptuous procession, and a joust on horseback.

After preparing all season, on September 13, the Contrade of Bagno a Ripoli face off throughout the days of the Palio, with a day-long celebration that concludes a week of events. 

The program:

• Tuesday, September 8
  10:00 pm
  Jousting Ring
  Dress rehearsal for the Palio delle Contrade historical procession
• Wednesday, September 9
  8:00 pm
  Invitation-only “Aspettando il Palio” dinner
  10:00 pm
  Presentation of the 47ᵗʰ Palio delle Contrade
• Thursday, September 10
  10:00 pm
  Jousting Ring “Provaccia”
  Official rehearsal of the Giostra della Stella (Joust of the Star) with the horses and riders of the Palio delle Contrade
• Sunday, September 13
  3:00 pm
  Gathering of the competitors at “I Ponti” garden in Bagno a Ripoli
  3:30 pm
  Blessing of the Palio and athletes in the Giostra della Stella ring
  4:00 pm
  Beginning of the competitions: Tug of War - 1ˢᵗ heat, Egg Race, Tug of War - 2ⁿᵈ heat, Sack Race, Tug of War - 3ʳᵈ heat. Then, along Via Roma: Running with Hoops and Running with Barrels
  8:30 pm
  Parade of the Palio Historical Procession with musicians and flag-throwers of the Palio and Guest Groups (Via Bocci, Via Roma, Via Ritortoli, Piazza della Vittoria, Via Pizzi)
  Entrance of the Historical Procession into the Giostra della Stella ring
  Performance of the official anthems by the Filarmonica Cherubini
  Reading of the cries by the herald in the presence of the Podestà Francesco Casini
  Performance of the Palio’s musicians and flag-throwers
  Giostra della Stella
  11:00 pm 
  Awarding of the knights and proclamation of the winning Contrada

The Giostra della Stella is contested between the various Contrade, each which its own appointed knight, called upon to pierce their sword through a hole in the center of a hanging star in a kind of running at the ring, while galloping on horseback. Each rider goes at full speed over two rounds, during which they must strike at least 2 stars per round. The hole of the star changes each round, there being a bronze star with large hole, a silver star with intermediate hole, and a gold star with a hole that is only slightly larger than the sword blade.