A Medieval Archery contest in Lucca

Amongst the numerous Tuscan towns that hold traditional festivals tied to their historic roots, Lucca can certainly hold its head high. The annual festival in honour of the Patron Saint San Paolino, held every 12th July, is a fantastic event centred around a Medieval crossbow tournament.

According to legend, on this date in 1664, an incident took place that was regarded as nothing short of a miracle by the local residents. Some cannons in the walls, close to Porta S. Donato, were fired in honour of the Saint, but accidently instead of firing safely into the air the shots were fired into the crowd. Miraculously no one was injured.

The locals believe that their Saint protected them from harm, giving rise to this annual festival in his honour. Apart from the various religious celebrations devoted to him, the main event is the archery tournament, known as the Palio della Balestra, a competition between 12 archers from the three districts of S. Salvatore, S. Paolino and S. Martino.

This spectacle sees the competitors arrive in San Martino Piazza accompanied by a parade of people dressed in medieval costumes. Strict rules, dating back to 1443, see people climb in pairs up to a small platform under the watchful gaze of the crowd, where they draw back their bows to fire towards the targets placed 36m away.

Historically the use of the crossbow in Lucca has an important link to the region that dates back to 1169. That was the year that the town looked to the Republic of Genova for support by sending their army of archers to repel the attack that was coming from Pisa.