Games Italians Play: The History of Bocce

You can think of modern bowling as a distant cousin of bocce ball. In England, they have "bowls," a lawn version of the game using a flattened ball that is rolled like a wheel, while traditional bocce balls are always spherical. The Latin word bottia (ball) is the root of the Italian word boccia or bocce, showcasing its deep bocce history. Latin also had the word boulles (balls), hence the name bowls for the British variant, and in France, it is referred to as Boules. The name pétanque is used in Provence in the South of France, derived from a Southern dialect of French meaning "two feet planted," which describes the position of players before tossing the ball. Italian bocce balls are solid and crafted from wood or a composite material, and sometimes metal, while French boules are made of hollow metal.  

During a game of bocce, a ball is rolled or tossed underhand down a long lane, aiming to come to rest near a smaller target ball called a pallino or boccino (known in France as the cochonnet or "piglet"). With its widespread popularity, a form of bocce is played in more countries than any other ball game, except for soccer. The ancient bocce game was popularized by the Romans throughout the Roman Empire, which during that time spanned vast regions of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Historical figures like Galileo and DaVinci recognized the benefits of bocce, and many others, including emperors, admirals, generals, poets, sculptors, and scientists, participated in the game. Bocce was also introduced to various countries across the globe by Italian migrants, and its legacy continues as their descendants enjoy Italian bocce courts and clubs worldwide.  

In its current form, the game of bocce has roots dating back to 264 BC during Rome's Punic Wars against Carthage, where teams of 2, 4, 6, or 8 men were formed. Soldiers initially threw a small stone "leader" before throwing larger stones to see which could get closest to it. The game served as a relaxation method for troops, allowing them to gamble and relieve stress from the war. As they played in teams, they honed their military strategic thinking.  

The exact origins of bocce remain unclear. Stone balls have been found in Turkey dating back to 9000 BC, while some believe bocce originated in Egypt around 5200 BC, or that Greece may have been its birthplace around 600 BC. When you think about the simplest game a child can play—tossing a stone—you might consider bocce as perhaps the very first game ever played by mankind. Even the child’s game of marbles draws inspiration from bocce.