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Grab yourself a late deal >Flying falcon joust, Tuscany
On August 12th, the beautiful small Tuscan town of Massa Maritima will host one the Balestro del Girifalco, a pageant of the medieval sport of crossbow shooting which comes to the town twice a year
The Renaissance roots of so much of the region's wealth is reflected by the contest, traditionally fought between the three districts of the area.
Having paraded through the town and competed in various crossbow disciplines throughout the day, the teams finally shoot down a mechanical falcon as a climax to the competition.
Festivities continue long into the night, with many regional delicacies served, including the wild boar common in the area. Everything is washed down with plenty of the local Monteregio red, naturally.
Massa Maritima, regarded as a cultural and architectural gem even by Tuscan standards, is still comparatively unknown to tourists.
Historically shut off from other towns by the steep hills surrounding it, Massa Maritima is of interest to visitors as a fascinatingly intact example of a late medieval town, with the city walls still standing, and many buildings from the era still preserved.
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