Games in pisa

During the Battle of the Bridge, in Pisa the city's districts challenge each other by pushing a cart from side to side on the rails installed along the bridge.

The participating teams are united by membership to the historical districts of Pisa featuring flags, colours and unique sayings. Duration: approx. The Game of Bridge in Pisa is a very fierce competition in which two factions fight to win on the surface of the bridge and become the undisputed master. The parade is an important part of the event and strongly evokes the origins of the game of bridge due to the presence of more than seven hundred people parading along the Arno river in Pisa, creating a very charming medieval historical simulation.

The Pisa Battle of the Bridge is a historical event that originates from the 14th century. Before then, at a time when the city of Pisa was a Republic, there was already a game called Mazzascudo during which the people on the opposite sides of the Arno River challenged each other: the northern part originally called the Gazza and then Tramontana , the southern part called the Gallo and then Mezzogiorno.

The Game of the Bridge in Pisa, Italy is characterized by its ferocity and the use of clubs and shields in comparison Calcio Storico Fiorentino is nothing to gain greater territorial dominance.

According to historical records there was a temporary ban to perform the game during the time of the Medici domination under the city of Florence, which considered this event a symbol of independence for the town. The first official edition of Pisa Gioco del Ponte dates back to , when the bridge was called Ponte Vecchio and the conflict saw the use of about 60 soldiers for each of the two opposing teams.

Originally the game was played in the ancient Square of Anziani now called Piazza dei Cavalieri , while in later times Ponte di Mezzo become the official theatre of the race. The Battle of the Bridge of Pisa, unlike other races such as the medieval Palio of Siena or the Saracen, is based on the physical strength of the teams that are put to the test before achieving victory.

Over the centuries the Pisa Bridge game has been modified, banned and stopped but in the end, always restored. As for the changes, the most significant has been that clubs and shields are no longer in use but instead they have been replaced with Tar gone , a wooden board with the colours of the teams, over a meter long and weighing about three kilos.

The use of the board remained unchanged until , when the queen Maria Luisa decided to suspend the game, considering it too violent and like a real battle: the definition of the monarch remained famous: 'for a game there is too much violence, for war it is too little'.

How to blame her? At the beginning of the 20th century university students tried to resurrect the Game of Bridge in Pisa. In fact, Pisa was home to a large number of young fans eager to organize a procession to revive the events and traditions of the city in which they lived.

During the Second World War , the event was suspended and the Ponte di Mezzo was torn down during the fighting. The next game took on a completely playful attitude avoiding direct confrontation between players and using a mechanical cart to slide on the rails.

The changes that remained to this day have included, therefore, the simultaneous pushing between the two opposing teams , from one direction to the other, in a really compelling and relentless tussle! Pisa completes with this exciting competition a month full of events and revitalization of its historic heritage and folklore. In the game of bridge in Pisa the challenge is between the two historical teams of the city of Pisa: Tramontana and Mezzogiorno. Can you remember them?

Why is there this division? The city of Pisa is divided by the river Arno : observing a map, you will see that two distinct territories are separated by the natural course of the river running directly into the sea. Going back to the neighbourhoods of the Game of Bridge in Pisa, many of the names you read are tied to the 'mythical' past of the Pisan military units.

Some districts have maintained the original names, others however, have been taken from the 18th century teams. Each district is linked to an entity called ' judiciary ' which deals with the organization of the teams and works to make sure that the Game of bridge in Pisa remains a popular event.

The flags of the districts bear illustrations and symbols of companies and ancient tradition besides the representative colour of each team. Among the most interesting things about the Gioco del Ponte in Pisa, the mottos are a good summary of the spirit of the race. For example: the motto of the Satyrs is ' old and decrepit I am, give me respect or I'll beat you up ', fearless is the motto of the Dolphins 'Fear no storm' , full of civic pride the one of St Martin 'Pisa makes water and earth shake' , simple and direct that of Mattacini ' We must win ', in Latin that of St.

Michael ' melius dare qua accipere ' and finally concise and fleeting that of Santa Maria ' hand to mouth '. The game of bridge in Pisa today consists in pushing a cart along the rails along a track on the Ponte di Mezzo in order to reach the opposing side and to have the better of the enemy team. However, before you attend this inhumane showdown, the event focuses on the historical parade in costume. The clothes are designed in a 16th century Spanish style with the use of velvets, damasks, brocades and are worn by over people, some of them on horseback.

Carrying various weapons such as swords, daggers, axes and morioni helmets. There is no lack of trumpets, drums and signs that make the parade on Lungarni an impressive event full of ancient sounds and symbolic images. What happens during the race? Whether it's a bachelor party in Pisa, a family excursion or a birthday party with friends - this treasure hunt in Pisa will make your next trip an unforgettable experience!

Vanessa L. Alejandro R. Stefan B. Thorsten K. It combines a smartphone-based scavenger hunt with a thrilling secret agent story. The players solve tricky puzzles at different locations in the center of Pisa. The players' smartphones are used to navigate and solve riddles digitally. In contrast to the price models of other providers, myCityHunt is charged per person. For example, the total price for an Escape Game for two people is only If you have a ticket, you can play on any day and at any time within the validity period of 6 months!

This website uses cookies. By clicking on 'I agree', you consent to the use of cookies. Alternatively you can adjust the cookies settings by clicking on 'Settings' or the following link. More Information. Read more. Suitable for kids. Route ca. Book Tickets For Corporate Clients. Other Tours in Pisa. Treasure Hunt Pisa.

Xmas Adventure Pisa. In our Ticket Shop you can book tickets for groups from 2 to 33 participants. These are valid for 6 months. By entering your ticket code you can start your Pisa Scavenger Hunt on your desired date via our Web App. Together you will go on the hunt for tricky puzzles, shoot photos and master team tasks. During the hunt you collect points, which in the end decide your place in the highscores.

Find locations. Using GPS navigation, our easy-to-use web app guides you to the sights of your tour. Solve riddles. Once you have reached a location, we will present you with a tricky riddle. Master challenges. During the tour we send challenges to the phones of all registered players. Collect points. For each successfully mastered task and challenge, we reward you with points.

Guided Tours for Corporate Clients Based on long-standing experience, we know the special requirements that arise when planning a team event in Pisa. For Corporate Clients. Pisa now has an exit game in the city center!