June 24 was la festa di San Giovanni, which is the patron saint of Florence. The corteo storico (historic parade) paraded through town with 500 people in costumes, a few horses and even one cow! Can you imagine walking slowly in the sun in those heavy silk costumes? I got too much sun and I was just standing there taking their photos (they are still in the camera). These past weeks have seen 35c plus every day...

After the corteo, there was the annual calcio storico (historic soccer) game at Piazza Santa Croce. The game commemorates the fact that the early version of soccer was invented in Florence back in the Roman days. At the time, fouls were not yet invented and the punching was very much part of the game. Check it out on YouTube. It's quite entertaining.

At the end of the day fireworks were shot from Piazzale Michelangelo just above the river. The riverfront was packed with thousands upon thousands of people! It was VERY nice to behold. In Italy is seems, there are more fireworks in the day of the city than in any national day. Italians for some reason, don't like celebrating being Italian but do like celebrating their regional identity.

And speaking of firewoks... Happy 4th of July to my American friends!