THE ASSOCIATION FRIENDS OF THE "GIOCO DEL PONTE"
The Association friends of the "Gioco del Ponte" was set up on June 17th 1970 thanks to the will and enthusiasm of Fabio Franceschi, Francesco Fichi and Paolo Tornar who wanted to resume the "Gioco del Ponte" that had stopped for some years. In the same year on August 6 on the occasion of St. Sisto day, organized by "Gli amici di Pisa" the three men above- mentioned organized a short representative parade of the ancient costumes.
This event was so successful to believe that it was time to give a better organization to the structure of the Association. So at the end of September during an assembly at the "Cinema Arno", coordinator big Ferruccio Giovannini, the father of the present "Gioco del Ponte" and Chancellor General, it was approved the Statute, elected a Council of twelve persons (six from "Tramontana and six from "Mezzogiorno") and Umberto Moschini was elected President.
The main aim of the association is to promote any action to bring to live the "Gioco" in its historical, cultural and social aspects. Since its birth the Association has tried to realize events to recall the Pisan citizens’ attention and arouse their enthusiasm.
As in ancient times on January 17, St. Antonio Abate Day, the "battagliaccia" took place (it was a sort of test which let the fighters to be always ready to revoke the Gioco). It was decided to recall that date to encorage the local administration to restore the "Gioco del Ponte".
Year by year various events have taken place on St Antonio Abate day. Just to remember some of them : a) the solemn day when the major Elia took in his care the over thousand written requests of the citizens of Pisa who wanted to see and live "The Gioco del Ponte" again. b)When the memorial tablet of the Gioco was placed again on the "Ponte di Mezzo" (the central bridge); c) when the "Consiglio degli Anziani" took in care the supporters’requests to be admitted to the parade both Tramontana and Mezzogiorno. On the same day January 17 "La Compagnia dei Balestrieri" from Lucca, "Gli armati della nobile città di Fivizzano", "Il Corteo storico delle Antiche Repubbliche Marinare," Gli Sbandieratori e Musici Pisani", "La Compagnia Balestrieri di Pisa", "il Gruppo Folkloristico Pisano" and many others came to express their admiration for the "Gioco del Ponte".
Later on, thanks to the sponsorship of the "Automobile Club" of Pisa," Banca Popolare " of Pisa, then Novara and at present "Confesercenti" of Pisa on the 2nd Saturday of September it was set up the prize-giving the "Morione", a prize awarded to the "figurants" who best represented the historic costum they wore in the parade on the Day of the Gioco. Another prize "Morione d’onore" for the Institutions, organizations and persons who have done their best for the Gioco, according to their competence.
For twenty years, thanks to the contribution with the magazine in the vernacular "Er tramme" and the sponsorship of the Automobile Club of Pisa, it has been publicized the competition in the vernacular "Er Gio’o der Ponte" and the golden, silver, bronze prize "Il Celatino" has been awarded on the 2nd Friday of June.
For five years the Association has taken care in reliving the feast of "Capodanno Pisano" as coordinator of the committee of the Comune (hall) of Pisa.
In 2010 for the 40th anniversary the Association had a great revival because of the entrance of the young and lots of new members so that people can talk about and love the "Gioco" as an important and exciting moment of our Town and above all it can take deep root in the heart of the citizens of Pisa.
This event was so successful to believe that it was time to give a better organization to the structure of the Association. So at the end of September during an assembly at the "Cinema Arno", coordinator big Ferruccio Giovannini, the father of the present "Gioco del Ponte" and Chancellor General, it was approved the Statute, elected a Council of twelve persons (six from "Tramontana and six from "Mezzogiorno") and Umberto Moschini was elected President.
The main aim of the association is to promote any action to bring to live the "Gioco" in its historical, cultural and social aspects. Since its birth the Association has tried to realize events to recall the Pisan citizens’ attention and arouse their enthusiasm.
As in ancient times on January 17, St. Antonio Abate Day, the "battagliaccia" took place (it was a sort of test which let the fighters to be always ready to revoke the Gioco). It was decided to recall that date to encorage the local administration to restore the "Gioco del Ponte".
Year by year various events have taken place on St Antonio Abate day. Just to remember some of them : a) the solemn day when the major Elia took in his care the over thousand written requests of the citizens of Pisa who wanted to see and live "The Gioco del Ponte" again. b)When the memorial tablet of the Gioco was placed again on the "Ponte di Mezzo" (the central bridge); c) when the "Consiglio degli Anziani" took in care the supporters’requests to be admitted to the parade both Tramontana and Mezzogiorno. On the same day January 17 "La Compagnia dei Balestrieri" from Lucca, "Gli armati della nobile città di Fivizzano", "Il Corteo storico delle Antiche Repubbliche Marinare," Gli Sbandieratori e Musici Pisani", "La Compagnia Balestrieri di Pisa", "il Gruppo Folkloristico Pisano" and many others came to express their admiration for the "Gioco del Ponte".
Later on, thanks to the sponsorship of the "Automobile Club" of Pisa," Banca Popolare " of Pisa, then Novara and at present "Confesercenti" of Pisa on the 2nd Saturday of September it was set up the prize-giving the "Morione", a prize awarded to the "figurants" who best represented the historic costum they wore in the parade on the Day of the Gioco. Another prize "Morione d’onore" for the Institutions, organizations and persons who have done their best for the Gioco, according to their competence.
For twenty years, thanks to the contribution with the magazine in the vernacular "Er tramme" and the sponsorship of the Automobile Club of Pisa, it has been publicized the competition in the vernacular "Er Gio’o der Ponte" and the golden, silver, bronze prize "Il Celatino" has been awarded on the 2nd Friday of June.
For five years the Association has taken care in reliving the feast of "Capodanno Pisano" as coordinator of the committee of the Comune (hall) of Pisa.
In 2010 for the 40th anniversary the Association had a great revival because of the entrance of the young and lots of new members so that people can talk about and love the "Gioco" as an important and exciting moment of our Town and above all it can take deep root in the heart of the citizens of Pisa.
