rowing boat races
livorno (june-july)
Every year rowing boat races between the local districts take place in Livorno, a "sea" town with maritime sport traditions.
These competitions date back from a long ancient past. Each district has a distinctive coat of arms and characteristic colours recalling its origins and traditions.
White and yellow, typical of the local neighbourhood Benci-Centro, are referred to in the film "Ovo sodo" by Paolo Virzì, a popular filmmaker born in Livorno. The Palio Marinaro is the most important event of all and it emotionally involves all the town inhabitants.
It takes place in July in the sea in front of Terrazza Mascagni from which it is possible to enjoy one of the best views of the Tuscan coastline.
First held in 1400 in honour of Cosimo de' Medici, the Palio has become essentially the town challenge throughout the years.
The winner is given the "drappo" (a piece of cloth) which is called the Palio according to the tradition of Siena.
At the end of June the Barontini Cup is particularly atmospheric as it runs at night along the Medicean canals.
Each crew, representative of one of the local districts, challenges another in a race across the town historical districts which are floodlit for the occasion. The spectators participate from small bridges and jutting parapets along the canals.
The windows of the buildings are decorated with the colours distinctive of their neighbourhood making the background at the arrival point (in front of the Fortezza Nuova) bright and lively.
The Risi'atori Cup, a rowing boat competition held in the open sea at the end of June, has its historical origins in the Medici 17-century law which gave fast sailing-boats the right to land.
"Arrisicare" is an archaic word that means to risk, to risk one's own life to fight against the sea. The Risi'atori Cup is dedicated to the memory of those strong adventurous men who belonged to rebel crews of the past. Rowing boats representing the eight most powerful town neighbourhoods take part in the competition. The boats leave from the tower of Meloria, a historical symbol of past sea battles, and arrive at the town port after 7600 m of great effort.
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