Spheres were the most popular game in our country before the introduction of football.
“Palla bracciale” and “palla elastica” are traditional Italian heritage, and still practiced by a number of players in various parts of Italy.
Balls are hit either with the palm of the hand (usually protected by bands of tissue) or a bracelet of wood and leather.
Many of these games are practiced on roads, although there some playgrounds (called “sferisterio”) still exist. One of the common features to almost all of these games is to require a field with a wall (or a row of houses) to bounce the ball on.
Historical Background
Spheres have always been played in cultures around the world: from the mythical representations of the violent game “thlachtli” , a ritual of pre-Columbian civilizations , to ancient Greeks and then the Romans.
Romans in particular developed the game of " follis " and " ludere espulsim " , and built fields for the game, called spheristerium.
Balls could be made of natural fibers and fabrics, or they could be made of stone or metal, covered in wool and leather, or rubber.
However leather balls are still used by various game communities.
Since the Sixteenth century various types of ball games have been played in Western Europe, with different local varieties. In particular, these games are popular in Spain , the Netherlands and in Central and Northern Italy.
Many poets and writers have written about these games, among others, Goethe, De Amicis, Cesare Pavese and Beppe Fenoglio.
Game Communities
Palla Bracciale, Treia (Macerata), Marche
Pallone Grosso col Bracciale, Monte San Savino (Arezzo), Toscana
Palla Eh!, Torniella (Grosseto), Toscana
Palla 21, Ciciano di Chiusdino (Siena), Toscana
To' Vegna, Farra di Mel (Belluno), Veneto
Balina, Valeggio sul Mincio (Verona), Veneto