In Livorno, the ultimate port city, every year the rowing competitions take place among the city districts; a series of spectacular challenges, soaked in sweat and saltwater, with ancient historical roots. These are not only sports events, but also grand festivals of passion and folklore that, with ups and downs, have renewed the bond between Livorno and its sea for about five hundred years.

The rowing season of the city of Livorno opens on April 25th with the “Trofeo Liberazione” (Liberation Trophy), an event that, in its third edition this year, has not yet earned the status of being included among the great “classics” of the Labronese tradition: the “Palio dell’Antenna”, the “Coppa Barontini”, the “Coppa Risiatori” and the “Palio Marinaro”, four must-attend events that allow one to be captivated by the history, culture, and charm of the Labronese atmosphere.

The second race of the season, held on May 21st at the Darsena Nuova, is the “Giostra dell’Antenna” (Joust of the Antenna), an atypical and ancient competition of medieval origins, in which the city districts compete in speed and skill to be the first to reach a steel pole on top of which the “Cencio” (a maroon flag) waves, representing the goal of the race and the ultimate effort of the “montatore” (climber), a particular figure of the crew tasked with climbing up to the top of the antenna placed in the center of the racecourse.

Then in June, it’s time for the formidable “Coppa Risiatori” (Risiation Cup), a race as spectacular as it is demanding, in which the boats, starting from the Torre Meloria, a symbol of the naval battles that shaped the city’s history, arrive exhausted at the finish line inside the port of Livorno through an open sea route of almost 8 kilometers.

Also in June, comes the captivating “Coppa Barontini” (Barontini Cup), a time trial competition that takes place at night along the enchanting route of the Fossi Medicei, the system of canals that encircle the center of the city of Livorno, passing through neighborhoods steeped in the magic of the festival and adorned with district colors.

And finally, around the first Sunday of July, it’s time for the race that is perhaps the most cherished among the city districts and within the close-knit circle of rowers: the “Palio Marinaro” (Marine Palio) of the City of Livorno, held in open sea in front of the beautiful Terrazza Mascagni.