The Bandierai degli Uffizi are the official flag-throwers of Florence. More than just performers, they are “ambassadors” of the city, representing the strength and elegance of the Renaissance.
In the Middle Ages, soldiers (called alfieri) practiced with flags to stay fit and to use them as signals on the battlefield. Over time, these military movements became a beautiful performance used during city celebrations.
The performance is not improvised; it requires intense athletic training and discipline. The flag-throwers perform specific historical movements with names like:
The Molinello: A spinning move.
The Onda (The Wave): Fluid, flowing motions.
The Salto del Fiocco: An athletic jump over the flag.
Passages: Throwing the flag under the leg, behind the neck, or around the waist.
Each flag represents the 16 Magistrature (the ancient government offices) of the 16th-century Florentine Republic. Today, the flags are divided into two groups of eight, keeping the visual history of the Renaissance alive through their bright colors and symbols.
The Bandierai travel all over the world to perform in famous squares. They carry the symbol of the Giglio (the Red Lily) everywhere they go. Their mission is to show that tradition is not a dead memory, but a “living fire” to be shared with pride.
