La Locanda del LoggiatoCharming hotel in Bagno Vignoni, Siena

The Saracen Tournament: Piazza Grande in Arezzo is the scene of this joust. Held on the first Sunday in September, this tournament dates back to the Crusades in the Middle Ages, when all Christendom dedicated itself to driving the North African Arabs (the Moors) out of Europe. There are lively and colorful processions to precede the event, in which eight costumed knights charge towards wooden effigy of the Saracen. The aim is to try to hit the Saracen's shield with lances. Each pair of knights represents one of Arezzo's four rival districts and their supporters occupy a side each of the plaza. They are quite when their own district knights are jousting, but make as much noise as possible to distract the opposition. The winner receives a gold lance.