Coppa Barontini after dark on the Medici canalsThe Coppa Ilio Barontini takes place after dark on the last Saturday in June. It is named after a local resistance fighter who died in a road accident in 1951. The race was founded in 1966 in his honour. 

This is probably the most spectacular Livornese rowing race, standing out from the others because each team races on its own around the 3.2m course along the Medici canals. The starting line is at the Scali delle Cantine. From here the teams follow a course along the Scali del Pontino, Scali Reali, Scali Rosciano, Darsena Vecchia, Ponte Nuovo, Scali D’Azeglio, Scali Saffi, Voltone (below Piazza della Repubblica), and back to the finish line at the Scali delle Cantine. Each team is timed and the fastest one naturally wins.

Since the race crosses most of Livorno’s central historic Rioni, spectators gather along the canals in their own district to cheer on their own team and the atmosphere is fantastic. Many spectators also gather around the starting/finish line and it can be hard to get a viewpoint along the canals if you don’t arrive early enough.