Gli eventi: Il Diotto

This is a re-evocation of the founding of Scarperia by the Florentine republic on the 8th (die-octo) of September 1306 and which the Scarperia Historic procession, a representative group of Calcio Storico Fiorentino and the Flag-throwers of the Uffizi take part in, with the whole town celebrating.

The first historic re-enactment was in 1954, but it is only since 1963 that the ceremony of the succession of the Vicar is re-enacted, giving a precisely historic aspect to the entire “Diotto” celebration which has always been deeply felt and respected in the area of Scarperia. So, since then the celebrations have been organised as follows: at nine o’clock in the evening a Vicarial procession composed of over a hundred people arrives from “Florentia”, accompanying the new Vicar to the sound of trumpets and drums as far as Porta Fiorentina where he is welcomed by the outgoing Vicar with the notables, the herald, the ladies of court and the nobles, the musicians, the soldiers and the standard. The two figures greet each other and the incoming Vicar lays down the parchment showing his nomination by the Florentine republic; the two processions then merge into one. together with the four teams competing in the games in honour of the incoming Vicar. They initially represented the four districts of Scarperia: Canto dei Melai (red), Canto dell'Oche (green), Canto di San Martino (white) and Canto di Calabrache (light blue). Currently there are ten districts (Viola di San Gavino, Rossi di San Michele a Ferrone, Neri di Mezzanotte, Celesti di San Simone alla Rocca, Grigi di San Donato, Gialli di Santa Maria a Fagna, Verdi di Borgo Rinzelli, Granata di San Giovanni Maggiore, Bianchi di Santa Croce degli Ubaldini and Blù di Senni) and to get to the final of the Diotto elimination rounds are played.

The procession goes along the streets of the historic centre, lit and decorated for the occasion, in a symbolic inspection of the armed forces and the walls.
To the sound of the bells in the tower of the Palazzo dei Vicari, the procession slowly walks in step into the square in this order: the Sergeants of the Otto di Guardia e Balia followed by the flags of the Florentine republic and the Scarperia Standard escorted by the pages of the Borough dressed in red and white; then the herald, the outgoing and incoming Vicars; the pageboys; the musicians with trumpets, drums and pipes; the ladies of court, richly dressed in period costume of various fashions and colours who move forward majestically with their squires; then come the maids of honour; the Field Judges; the four districts with the players who will compete for the Diotto Palio; then come the troops and last of all the Uffizi flag throwers.
The procession stops in front of the stage where the Authorities are seated and the soldiers perform the "salute to the voice" remaining drawn while on the stage the official investiture ceremony begins: the Herald reads the decree of investiture, then the Apostolic Delegate comes out from the adjoining Oratorio della Madonna di Piazza at the sound of the bell, bringing the Bible with him and getting up onto the stage (where the magistrates, ladies of court and squires have previously seated themselves). The incoming Vicar reads the oath keeping his right hand on the Bible, while the outgoing Vicar offers him the keys of the Palace and starts the games. The square is vacated and the soldiers take up position along the sides of the stage while the four finalist teams, each composed of six strong, young men become the stars of the celebrations.
The Master of the Games starts the five scheduled competitions at the end of which the incoming Vicar will assign the palio del Diotto to the winning team.

The games consist of "knife-throwing", the " race on bricks", "rope-pulling", the "corsa nelle bigonce" and the "palo della cuccagna.

© photograph by Sandro Santioli