​It is late afternoon and we are arriving in Massa Marittima to watch the Balestro del Girifalco. This is a game played with crossbows. The practice of this all male sport, dating back to the Middle Ages, used to train adult men for hunting and war. As in the Middle Ages, even today everyone can take part, independently of their class and wealth. The square is already packed and the fans are already warming up. The crossbowmen, part of the historical parade, begin arriving. The banners, waving high on the palaces, recall the colors of the three areas of Massa Marittima, here called “terzieri”: yellow gold blue and red for the Borgo, white, black and yellow for Cittavecchia and white, red and green for Cittanuova.