As we promised a couple of weeks ago, time for our second instalment of the mini-series of episodes dedicated to the festivals that populate the calendar of Pisa during the month of June. After waxing lyrical on the Luminara, the amazing light festival that turns the city of the Leaning Tower into a fairytale scenario, time for the big daddy, the main event that closes the month. On the last Saturday of June, teams from the North and South side of the city fight each other on the most ancient bridge trying to push a very heavy cart, in a sort of reverse tug of war. This is probably one of the oddest historical celebrations in the whole of Italy and this should surprise exactly no one. This weird competition was created in the 1940s to replace the real Gioco del Ponte, a simpler and much more violent contest that had been held in the ancient harbour city for centuries. Calling it a "game" is definitely a misnomer: it was in all effects an organised brawl that involved hundreds of fighters per side and could last up to one hour. And yet, Pisans loved it so much that not even a devastating flood could stop them from having their beloved game. Follow us as we delve deep into the history of this brutal clash and how it was crucial in maintaining alive the fighting spirit of the ancient sea power after the devastating defeat against Florence. This week What's Up Tuscany brings you to the Gioco del Ponte, the battle on the bridge that kept Pisa alive. Let us know if you'd rather have the episodes shorter, if we're trying to cover too much or too little. Every feedback is crucial to help us grow. It's exceedingly easy to get in touch with us: just drop us an email or a direct message on our social media accounts. If you love Italy, its art, culture, food and history follow us on your favourite podcasting app. You definitely won't regret it!
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LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
http://www.pisa24.info/il-gioco-del-ponte-compie-450-anni-e-festeggia-con-una-mostra-e-con-un-grande-capodanno-pisano/
https://www.toscanainside.com/it/eventi-in-toscana/grandi-eventi/gioco-del-ponte/
http://www.giocodelpontedipisa.it/storia-mazzascudo.php
http://www.stilepisano.it/giocoponte.html
http://manoscritti.altervista.org/gioco%20ponte%20pisa%20risse%201755.html
https://www.lanazione.it/pisa/cultura/tramontana-mezzogiorno-1.3993570

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Fortress (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Followers (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Ignite to Light (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Mapping the Stars (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - The Opening Closing
Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original Instrumental
All released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pc-one-fortress-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipechoir-followers-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-ignite-to-light-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-mapping-the-stars-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/p-c-iii-the-opening-closinginstrumentalcreative-commons
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commons
http://www.pipechoir.com/