The Crossbow of the Girifalco

Every year on the fourth Sunday in May and August 14, the Balestro del Girifalco is held in Massa Marittima. This is an exciting competition among the Terzieri Massetani, which evokes the ancient tradition of crossbow practice, hence the name of the event. The term "girifalco" derives from the bird of prey-a symbol of the enemy-and that in this case refers to the target to be hit, placed at a distance of 36 meters from the crossbowman. The competition is opened by a procession of more than 150 costumed medieval figures and a wonderful flag-waving display. The competition is contested by 24 crossbowmen - eight from each of the borough's Terzieri - who wield faithful reproductions of the 15th-century antique Italian-style crossbow. The prize consists of a symbolic golden arrow, awarded to the crossbowman who will have stuck the arrow closest to the center of the target, while his Terziere will be given a painted silk banner.