Did you know that fencing is one of Rome’s most celebrated and accessible sports, ranging from Olympic-level foil and épée programs to historic sword-fighting? I did not know. Until recently when I witnessed this:

The spectacle of team foil fencing took over the Pincio Terrace on the second day of the Frecciarossa Roma 2026 Italian Absolute Championships: the women’s team from the Carabinieri Sports Center and the men’s team from Fiamme Oro Roma won the specialty titles. It was another evening of great fencing in the heart of the capital, where the finals were held in a double-header between the Carabinieri and the State Police.

Yes, that’s right, in Rome over 2 evenings, a fencing competition is being held out in the open, for all to see, at the Pincio Terrace on the Pincio Hill, right over Piazza del Popolo in Rome. Again, never have I ever seen such a scene!