A tradition still very dear to fans and footballers today, which has its origins in the history of the first ball games, from the Sferomachia of the ancient Greeks through the Roman Harpastum and through the Middle Ages, in which football on the streets was a activity much appreciated by the Florentines, until the iconic match of February 17, 1530 in which the citizens, although exhausted by hunger and the siege of Charles V, took to the streets and began to play football in mockery of the enemy.
To date, historic football is the fiercest competition involving the city, a unique spectacle of its kind and a strong identity element for citizens.
17 February 1530, Florence makes fun of the Spanish siege and plays the Historic Football
That the Florentine spirit was proud, mocking and frightening was well known, but that day in the Holy Cross it was widely demonstrated. Florence has been a republic for three years and Pope Clemente VII (in the century Julius de’ Medici) had agreed with Emperor Charles V for a military siege that would force the people of Florence to re-embrace the cause of Medici. The city, which had resisted the Spanish troops for two years, decided, in mockery of the enemies, to keep alive the traditional game of Soccer Historico, which was played during the Carnival. An exhibition of strength made through play, at a time when there would have been little desire to play. The message was clear: we are stronger than your cannons. To the imperial troops stationed on the adjoining hills there was nothing left to observe, astonishing whites and bile green (it seemed to be the same colors as the footballers on the field), the spirit of a city rising above difficulties.
At that time, “swimsuit football” was a hobby practiced by many Florentine nobles, but in more recent years, with the spread of the 4 colors of the neighborhood and the moving of the event to the patron saint’s party on June 24, it took on a carat tere is becoming more popular. It is considered the oldest team sport with the ball in all of Europe and it is still very followed by tourists and especially by the many Florentini fans, divided into factions of their own colors, but always with Florence in the hearts.
