On May 10–11, the Italian city of Livorno hosted the Giostra di Giovanni, a medieval culture festival that transformed the historic Fortezza Vecchia into an arena for the largest mass battles in Europe since the legendary Battle of the Nations in Serbia.
The festival brought together participants from ten countries — Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Serbia, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Belarus, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Large-scale clashes with up to 80 fighters on each side became both a true test for the athletes and a spectacle for the audience. More than 250 visitors also enjoyed duels, a medieval fair, concerts, and reenactments.
In the 12 vs. 12 discipline, Bern — the club founded by Evgeny Strzhalkovsky — demonstrated a high level of tactical preparation: disciplined formation and a focus on halberds secured a convincing victory over their rivals.
Evgeny Strzhalkovsky emphasized that such events are important not only as sporting competitions but also as platforms for dialogue and cultural exchange:
“Festivals like Livorno remind us that true strength lies in communication, in sharing culture and experience. Fighting shoulder to shoulder with friends from other countries, we preserve what is most valuable — the living bond between people and nations.”
According to Evgeny Strzhalkovsky, his club’s participation in such tournaments strengthens the status of historical medieval battle (HMB) as an international sporting discipline and sets new standards for organizing these events worldwide.
