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In 1530 during the siege of Florence, a football game was played in Piazza Santa Croce to provoke the enemy. In memory of this event, at the end of June each year, to coincide with the festival of the Patron Saint of the city, Saint John the Baptist, 24 June, a few games of what is now called "calcio storico", historical football, are played.

The four districts of the city, Santa Croce, San Giovanni, Santa Maria Novella and Santo Spirito, each field a team which is dressed in costumes inspired by the paintings of Andrea del Sarto, in green, red, blue and white respectively. Each of the four medieval quarters of the city fields a team of 27 men. The games are usually held in Piazza Santa Croce, and always attract a lively crowd.

There is fierce rivalry among the teams, and play can be quite violent. This has nothing to do with traditional football and seems more like a free for all fight, with goals announced by a rifle fired into the air.

The prize is a calf which is roasted in the square at a street party later that night.

The event is preceded by a parade in medieval costume.

These events are celebrated by a firework display, best seen from the north bank of the Arno, between Ponte Vecchio and Ponte alle Grazie.