Renaissance Florentine Football: a rare 17th century volume by Giovanni de Bardi de Conti di Vernio (1534-1612) of the Accademia degli Alterati il Pur

Renaissance Florentine Football: a rare 17th century volume by Giovanni de Bardi de Conti di Vernio (1534-1612) of the Accademia degli Alterati il Puro titled 'Discorso Sopra Il Giuoco Del Calcio Fiorentino', 2nd edition, published in Florence, 1673, with an updated chapter from the original 1580 work dedicated to the playing of the sport, the tile page with a copper plate engraving bearing the Medici coat of arms, 36 pages, two fold-out copper plate engravings, the first demonstrating the players' field formation, the other with a view of a game in progress in the Piazza Santa Croce in Florence, content including rules, playing field and team stipulations, dress code and other general matters Calcio Fiorentino was an early form of football that originated in 16th century Italy. The Piazza Santa Croce of Florence is the cradle of this sport, that became known as Giuoco del Calcio Fiorentino (''Florentine kick game'') or simply calcio (''kick''). The official rules of calcio were published for the first time in 1580 by the Florentine count Giovanni de Bardi de Conti di Vernio. It appears to have been directly influenced by the ancient Roman game of Harpastum, echoed the discipline and teamwork required on the battlefield, and was played in teams of 27, using both feet and hands. Goals could be scored by throwing the ball over a designated spot on the perimeter of the field. The playing field is a giant sand pit with a goal running the width of each end. There is a main referee, six linesmen and a field master. Each game is played out for 50 minutes with the winner being the team with the most points or 'cacce'. Originally, calcio was reserved for rich aristocrats who played every night between Epiphany and Lent. In the Vatican City, Popes including Clement VII, Leo XI and Urban VIII were known to play. Participation in the sport eventually ceased before being revived some two hundred years later when organised games began again in 1930. Today, three matches are played each year in Piazza Santa Croce, in the 3rd week of June. The modern version is extremely physical and allows tactics such as head-butting, punching, elbowing, and choking, although forbids sucker-punching and kicks to the head. Four teams take part, Santa Croce or the Azzuri (blue), Santa Maria Novella or the Rossi (red), Santo Spirito or the Bianchi (white) and San Giovanni or the Verdi (green).