Florence Calcio Storico 2027 — Veteran Group Experience in Italy
A week in Florence built around the Calcio Storico final. Historic parade, the match, and access most visitors don't know is purchasable.
Dates
June 20–27, 2027
Duration
7–9 Days
Type
COMBAT SPORT / CULTURE
Availability
Limited seats — final tickets are scarce
Featured Experience
Calcio Storico — the June finals
500-year-old Florentine street fighting with a ball attached. Sand pit, four quarters, minimal rules. We go for the final.
What Tourists Miss
Operator Add-Ons
- Private / rooftop viewing of the final over Piazza Santa Croce
- After-hours or small-group access to the Vasari Corridor
- Tuscan countryside day — food and wine, no tour bus
Who This Trip Is For & What It Takes
Who It's For
Fighters, fans of controlled violence, and anyone who wants Italy off the tourist rail.
- Veterans and service members who want a fight, not a museum tour
- Combat sport fans — boxing, wrestling, MMA, rugby
- History buffs who would rather stand in it than read about it
- Couples and small crews who want Italy without a coach bus
Difficulty & Fitness
LowSpectator trip. Long days on foot in June heat — that's the hardest part.
What's Included & What's Not
What's Included
- 7 nights in central Florence, walkable to Piazza Santa Croce
- Calcio Storico final access — seated or private viewing depending on allocation
- Historic procession viewing position before the match
- Group welcome dinner and a closing dinner
- Tuscan countryside day — food and wine, private vehicle, no tour bus
- Trip coordinator on the ground the entire week
Not Included
- International flights to Florence or Pisa
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Most lunches and dinners outside the group meals
- Museum tickets outside the scheduled access
- Travel insurance
Itinerary
Day by day schedule
- Day 1Arrive Florence. Check in, walk the neighborhood, group welcome dinner.
- Day 2Orientation on foot — Duomo, Santa Croce, the arena site. Afternoon open.
- Day 3Vasari Corridor or after-hours access window, depending on allocation.
- Day 4Tuscan countryside day. Food, wine, private vehicle, back by evening.
- Day 5Open day. Optional leather district, Oltrarno, or a day train to Siena.
- Day 6Calcio Storico day. Historic procession, then the final in the sand pit.
- Day 7Recovery day. Closing dinner with the group.
- Day 8Departures. Late-flight bag storage handled.
Packing & Preparation
Pack This
- Broken-in walking shoes — this trip is 8-12 miles a day on stone
- Lightweight long sleeves; June in Florence runs hot and sun-exposed
- One set of dinner clothes for the group meals
- Refillable water bottle — the city fountains are drinkable
- Crossbody bag that closes; the match crowd is dense
- Camera or phone with real zoom — arena seating is set back
Prep Before You Fly
- Passport must be valid 6 months past return; no visa required for US tourists
- Calcio Storico final tickets are scarce — reserve early, allocation drives pricing
- Expect a real crowd and real violence in the pit; nothing about the match is staged
- Build up walking mileage beforehand; heat plus stone streets is the actual difficulty
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Calcio Storico?
A 500-year-old Florentine sport played in a sand pit at Piazza Santa Croce. Four teams by neighborhood, 27 men a side, four quarters, almost no rules. Punching, wrestling and takedowns are legal. We attend the June final.
Are Calcio Storico tickets actually available to the public?
In limited numbers, and they sell out fast. We secure group allocation ahead of the public release, which is why this trip runs on a waitlist and pricing lands once the allocation is confirmed.
Do I need to be fit for this trip?
No technical fitness required. This is a spectator trip. The hardest part is 8-12 miles a day on foot in June heat, so arrive able to walk all day.
Is this trip only for veterans?
It's built for veterans and service members, but spouses, partners and civilian friends are welcome. Every trip runs small — you'll know the whole group by day two.
Are flights included?
No. Airfare to Florence (FLR) or Pisa (PSA) is on you. Passport members and Flight Alerts subscribers get fare drops out of their home airport, which is the cheapest way to cover this leg.
What else is there to do during the week?
The itinerary keeps open days on purpose. Vasari Corridor access, the Oltrarno leather district, day trains to Siena and Lucca, and the Tuscan countryside day are all in play.
Airfare is the biggest line item on a Europe trip — turn on Flight Alerts for your home airport well before June.
Before You Book
Passport Membership
Member rates on every Military Escape, plus the member booking engine.
Flight Alerts
Airfare isn't included — let us watch fares out of your home airport.
My Dive Locker
Store certs, dive logs, and insurance details before the crew asks for them.
Pricing released when final ticket allocation is confirmed
No payment now. We contact you first when the roster opens.
