The Saracen Joust is a historical event which has very old origins: if it did not already take place in 1200, as some assert (documents of that period show how the Aretines were found of jousts and tournaments), it was certainly carried out in 1400. The most ancient document we know, however, is dated 6th August 1535. It is a majority resolution of the Priors (26 black stones v. 3 white stones) stating that the Joust against the Saracen should take place on Sundays with a prize of one arm (0,3364 sq.metres) of purple satin.

There is no doubt that the joust was originated in the Crusades and in the raids of the Saracens, which reached as far as Arezzo. The oldest regulations we know of, date from 1677: the rules in this valuable document are partly different from the modern one (in particular at that time all the armed knights who appeared in the square with their supporters could join the joust). Eventually the Joust was re-established in 1931.

RULES AND PERFORMANCES

The town quarters participating in the Joust, which is tradisionally held each year on the last but one Saturday of June (in the night) and the first Sunday of September (in the afternoon) are:
-Porta Crucifera - red and green colours
-Porta del Foro - yellow and crimson colours
-Porta S. Andrea - white and green colours
-Porta S.Spirito - yellow and blue colours
The participants, who are dressed in costumes of the period, are about 350 in all and include soldiers, musicians, valets, flag jugglers, knights, jousters and infantry-man of the Commune. On the Sunday before the Joust the quarter captains take an oath in the townhall square and the race order is drawn up: it is a solemn ceremony which takes place in a very picturesque setting. On the day of the Joust the historical procession marches on parade through the ancient and most beautiful streets of Arezzo, before entering Piazza Grande -one of the most characteristic ancient squares in Italy - where the tournament takes place. After the performance of the flag juggling and after the reading of the challenge to "Buratto, King of the Indies", the exciting joust begins. Two horsemen from each quarter charge against the huge effigy if the Saracen according to the draw and, by striking his shield with their lancers, try to get the best score. Once the Saracen is hit by the lance he starts rotating and threatens the horseman with a heavy whip armed with lead and leather balls. The quarter obtaining the highest score wins the "Golden Lance".

Main Rules
1) The horseman who is disarmed by the Saracen loses alla his points;
2) The horseman who is hit by the wip loses two points;
3) The horseman who breaks his lance while striking the Saracen's shield gets a double score.

The last but one Saturday of June: evening game
The first Sunday of September: afternoon game


Beato Gregorio X Ceremony
The offering of candles
On account of a very old tradition, at nightfall the Musicians, the Valets, the Infantrymen of the Commune take the rappresentatives of the four town quarters running through the ancient streets of the town to the Cathedral where they offer the hand-painted candles to Blessed Pope Gregorio X, who died in Arezzo in January the 10th 1276."

February, the first saturday
Ceremony of awarding prizes to the jousters
During a solemn ceremony, which takes place in the Town Hall, prizes are awarded to the jousters, both veterans and beginners, who participated in the previous joust. On the occasion the tables with the marked scores, which were kept private until that time, are exposed to the public for the first time.

April
Competition for new golden lances
Every year an international competition is announced for the designing of the grip of the "Golden Lances", that are the trophies at stake in the Saracen Joust. Among the designs sent by artists from all the world, the jury picks on the winning sketch, from which a clever craftsman will carve the new golden lance. All the selected designs will be exposed in the old Palace.

The oath
In the Sunday morning before the Joust the Quarter captains take an oath in the Town Hall Square and the race order is drawn up: it is a solemn ceremony which takes place in a very picturesque scenario.

The trials
In the days just before the Joust the Horsemen of town Quarters (Porta Crucifera, Porta del Foro, Porta S. Andrea and Porta S. Spirito) have been practising on their horses in order to face the big final challenge. Among the shouts of the supporters they repeatedly run against the "Buratto", fostering hopes of victory.

The last trial (the"provaccia")
In one of the evenings before the Joust (on thursday for the game of June and on Friday for the game of September) in Piazza Grande, splendidly illuminated, a general test of the event is carried out, with the income and alignment of all the armed men, the other participants, the musicians and the horsemen. In a great popular participation the young "reserve knights" challenge the "Buratto, King of Indies" in a true contest: a rich advance of what will happen…

The eve of the Joust
In the morning, in Piazza S. Francesco, according to a precise and ancient ceremonial, the official investiture of the "knights" takes place together with the stamping of the horses that will run the Joust. In the evening, in the squares of the four Quarters, people have a "propitiatory supper", which represents an opportunity for a genuine popular participation in the life of the Quarter itself. Waiting for the challenge…

The Joust Day
In the morning the historical procession follows the Herald who reads the announcement of the Joust to all the people. In the afternoon a suggestive procession with more than 350 figurants, between two wings of crowd, parades along the town roads, among flag-wavings and rolls of drums.

In Piazza Grande
After the performance of the flag jugglings and musicians and after the reading of the challenge to "Buratto, King of the Indies", the exciting joust begins. Two horsemen from each Quarter charge against the huge bust of the Saracen and, by striking its shield with their lances, try to get the best score. Once the Saracen is hit by the lance, he starts winding and threatens the horseman with a heavy whip armed with lead and leather balls. The Quarter wich obtains the highest score wins the "Golden Lance"!