11570 Giostra del Saracino, Arrezzo

Does anybody know how I might be able to get hold of good tickets to the Giostra del Saracino in Arrezzo in June this year? I've trawled the web, and visited the official site where it seems you can get a ticket for the stands for 5 euros if you are a resident of Provincia di Arrezzo, which we are, but it looks like unless you are high up on the stands you won't see much.

I'm taking a group of friends from London for a birthday weekend and I was hoping for a guaranteed good view for us all. There is a guy advertising on the web for tickets from private balconies and windows overlooking the square, but its a big risk if he is not legitimate. Any ideas or useful tips, or reliable sources of tickets would be a big help? grazie mille amici.

Category
Do & See

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 11:32

Dear Chiarablu

Hope I can help. We live here in Arezzo and had have been and our guests go to the Giostra. The Giostra is held on the Saturday evening around 8.30 ish... but events are on around town during the day. The tickets for reasonable grandstand seats are around 45 euros each so not cheap. You can get tickets from the official Giostra office, you need to apply [B]by email [/B]and there is somewhere in the office who speaks/writes english. [url=http://www.giostradelsaracino.arezzo.it/]LA GIOSTRA DEL SARACINO[/url] The normal procedure is then that you order your tickets/?now also pay for them and then pick them up from the Giostra office up to an hour or so before the performance.

However, if you can bear to do without the costumes but have all the action then why not the 'dress' rehersal held on Thursday evening around 8.30ish. Still get the flag throwing, the jousts, the bands, parade etc. but at a cost of around 5 euros. Sometimes you even get more jousts because each rider gets his two goes. For the real competition as soon as there is a clear and undisputed winner then it finishes. Although you only really know this when the piazza is suddenly a sea of horses, people, flags. etc. You don't need to prebook for the rehersal - just turn up and pay at the desk at the entrance to Piazza Grande.

You can see a pic. or two of the giostra on our website - see the gallery page.

PS. There are two Giostras a year, the first on the penultimate Saturday of June with the rehearsal on the Thursday before. This is the evening Giostra - starting around 8.30ish.
There is also a second Giostra on the first Sunday of September - the afternoon event starting around 5pm. With the rehearsal on the Friday before.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/02/2009 - 18:25

thanks ever so much Aretina, that was great advice. Do you know if you can see much from the ground or lower tiers? ie is it worth paying the 45 euros or can we see get a decent view lower down? Our friends may not be able to make the dress rehearsal (which sounds like a good alternative for us next time),I don't know anyone who has been before so if you can spare some further thoughts that would be really appreciated.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 15:05

Dear Chiarablu

There isn' really a tier system as such. The pictures on our gallery were taken from the 45 ish euro seats. We only went the once, before and since to the rehearsal. I am not sure of the exact configuration but why don't you mail the giostra office and speak/write to the english speaking person there. They can give you a) the 2009 prices and b) range of prices and where you would be. You would not get such a good view from the lower level because of the number of people in front of you (in the piazza area - the bands, costume wearers etc.....knights,,,,) However, it is a great event - go if you can!!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 11:12

We saw it live on a local TV channel three years ago, and it's spectacular.
One of the "must do one day" list.
We'd been into Arrezzo earlier in the week and saw the preparations.
It's a very small square to get horses up to that speed!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/06/2009 - 06:29

Send an email to this address asking for tickets/further info etc:

[email]giostradelsaracino@comune.arezzo.it[/email]

they are very very helpful.

There are a range of tickets prices for stand seats with €45 (last years price) being the best. The €5 tickets are for standing amongst the real fans. this is good fun but you have to stand for up to a couple of hours, will not get a great view and may get covered in beer/water etc if you are in with the winning team's section. Re seating prices etc you get a great view with the €45 seats, the others are ok but not as good - as ever you get what you pay for. It is well worth going as is a great event but go into the town itself during the late afternoon. there is a great buzz about and there is a big procession through the town with displays by the flag wavers.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/03/2009 - 06:06

Thank you so so much everybody, that was a really big help. Its especially great to have the advice of people who have been before, I had no idea where to start! I rang the Giostra office and they are very helpful and even offered to send me a response in english. Fingers crossed we'll get there, it looks meravigliosa!
all the best
Chiarablu