Announcing the 2024 Matta Arezzo September Giostra del Saracino Weekend
Arezzo’s Fall Jousting Festival
Experience Arezzo’s Timeless Tradition: The Thrilling Giostra del Saracino!
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the medieval extravaganza at Arezzo’s Giostra del Saracino! This isn’t just a joust – it’s a time capsule to the age of knights, where you can cheer for your favorite champions as they clash at the Buratto target in a spectacle of chivalry and skill as they vie for the prize of the golden lance. Experience the rich traditions of Tuscany, revel in the pageantry, and be swept away by the spirit of the Renaissance. It’s not just a show; it’s a history lesson with a dash of adrenaline! Let’s gallop into history together!
2024 Matta Arezzo September Giostra del Saracino Weekend
September 7-9, 2024
$800
(2024 Program Price: $800)
Maximum number of participants 8
Couples and singles, English and Italian speakers are welcome!
To Learn More Contact Melissa@StudentessaMatta.com
Join Melissa in Piazza Grande in Arezzo for the Fall Edition of the Giostra del Saracino
The 2024 Weekend Joust Package Includes:
3 Days / 2 Nights in the B&B le Chimera or the Hotel Aretino*
Walking Tour of Arezzo
Jousting Museum in Civic Center
Joust Seminar with Spritzes
Ticket for Cena Propiziatoria in the Santo Spirito Neighborhood
Guided Visit to the Santo Spirito Museo to see the Golden Lances
Tickets to see the Joust in Piazza Grande in Tribuna A
Sunday Evening Dinner in Centro to Celebrate the Winners!
*If you want to stay longer in the B&B, you may do so. Inquire about extended stay prices: Contact Melissa
Study at Cultura Italiana language school in Arezzo to improve your Italian language skills.
Join Melissa and Paola Testi of Cultura Italiana language school in Arezzo, June 16-28, 2024, to LEARN & IMPROVE YOUR ITALIAN! Immersing in language and culture and traveling with like-minded individuals is a great way to learn the language in a relaxed and friendly environment. My friends and teachers at Cultura Italiana Italian School in Arezzo and I are planning an exciting language and cultural program in the delightful hill town overlooking the Tuscan plains.
2024 Matta Fall Giostra del Sarcino Weekend.
8 Spots Available. Make your reservation now!
Highlights of the 2024 Matta Fall Giostra del Sarcino Weekend Event include participation in the Sunday afternoon joust and the activities surrounding the festival, including the neighborhood Cena Propiziatoria in the Santo Spirito Quartiere. Arezzo is alive with jubilation, costumes, and parades, AND there will be dancing and singing in the streets!
There will be a guided tour of the city, and a seminar to learn the history of the joust, how it is played, and how it is scored – held in the park at the top of Arezzo’s hill overlooking the beautiful Tuscan landscape with a spritz in your hand! We will have a guided tour of the Porta Santo Spirito Golden Lance Museo, enjoy the colorful parades, vibrant music, and drums, and experience the excitement of the games together in Piazza Grande. Afterward, we will enjoy a celebratory dinner to celebrate the winners.
Want to time-travel to the Middle Ages, cheer on valiant knights, and be dazzled by pageantry? Pack your bags and gallop to Arezzo’s Giostra del Saracino!
Arezzo’s got the armor, the horses, the food, and the
pomp of medieval times – all that’s missing is YOU!
Proposed activities by Day (other than daily gelato eating!)
Activities and timing of activities may change slightly. A final schedule of daily events will be posted a month before the beginning of the program.
Saturday, September 7: Participants arrive in Arezzo at the B&B (Day Before the Giostra)
4:30 pm – Walking Tour of Arezzo – Walking Tour of Arezzo with Melissa
We will start at the bottom of Arezzo’s hill and work our way up to the top
- Via del Corso
- Via Cavour
- San Francesco
- Badia
- Pieve
- Piazza Grande
- Vasari Loggia
- Biblioteca
- Duomo
- San Domenico
5:00 pm Spritzes & Joust Seminar in the Prato: Melissa will give an entertaining explanation about the Joust
- History of the Joust
- Explanation of the four quartieri of Arezzo
- The Golden Lance
- The participants and protagonists of the joust
- How the joust is scored and how to win the joust
6:00 pm A visit to the Giostra Museum in the Comune
7:30 pm Meet in Piazza San Jacopo to tour Santo Spirito Joust Museum to see their Golden Lances with Roberto Turchi
8:00 pm Cena Propiziatoria Dinner in Santo Spirito Quartiere
Sunday, September 8: (Day of the Giostra)
7:00 am – First Canon
10:30 am – Meet for Coffee at Bar in Via del Corso
10:45 am – Meet on the steps of Duomo For Herald Announcement
11:00 am – Second Canon – Watch the Sfilata
2:00 pm – Third Canon – Blessing of the Giostratori in San Jacopo
2:30 pm – We will make our way up the hill to the Duomo for the assembling of the Jouster
3:00 pm – Fourth Canon
3:15 pm – Blessing of all the teams by the Bishop in front of Duomo
4:30 pm – We will make our way into Piazza Grande and take our seats
5:00 pm – Fifth Canon – Event begins
8:00 pm – After the Joust ends we will go to Duomo to watch the winning team celebrate
8:30 pm – Group dinner at a local Trattoria in Centro
Monday, September 9: Baci & Abbracci
— Ciao a Tutti!
How to Reach Arezzo
Transport to Arezzo: Arezzo is situated between Rome and Florence. Either airport is convenient, and trains frequently run between the two cities hourly. Melissa is also happy to coordinate shared transportation from Florence or Rome nearer to the trip start date once she has everyone’s flight schedules. She will also coordinate a shared group van back to Florence and Rome at the end of the program. Group or private transport to Arezzo in a hired van will be out of the pocket expense.
Studentessa Matta Travel Philosophy… if you agree…andiamo!
Please complete the Deposit / Reservation form to reserve your 2024 Arezzo Italian Language Program spot. You will be taken to a new form page when you hit the submit button. Please continue to complete the Trip Forms, sign the waivers, and hit submit to enroll in the program fully. Thank you!
Matta Italian Small Group Language Programs
All Melissa’s Immersion Programs (Past & Present)
and Homestay Language opportunities
available through the Matta Website.
To learn more email Melissa at Melissa@StudentessaMatta.come
Italian Lessons / Conversation Practice
For more information about Arezzo and previous Matta Italian Language Programs Check out these posts and videos.
Cartoline da Arezzo – recap of the 2019 Program
Meet Paola Testi Director of Cultura Italiana Italian School – She Talks about Arezzo
Paola Testi invites you to join us in Arezzo to study at Cultura Italiana
Bella Arezzo Pictures to get you ready to travel to Arezzo
Arezzo’s Giostra – Jousting Festival
Con Antico Ardore – the 2017 Joust
Things the Arentini like most about Arezzo
Santa Margherita di Cortona: A Saint encased in glass
