By John Catton

FLORENCE, Italy – Soccer, Mixed Martial Arts, or Backyard Brawl? Sometimes it’s hard to define the Florentine sport of calcio storico. To the natives of Florence, calcio is a piece of the fabric that makes Florence unique and they are passionate about a sport they view as their own. Calcio is an ancestor of soccer, is only played in Florence, and is yet another feature that ties the city to its ancient past.

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