This document discusses traditional Italian games and their cultural significance. It provides descriptions and histories of several traditional games still played in various regions of Italy, including pallone elastico (ball game), borella (bowling precursor), calcio storico fiorentino (historic Florentine soccer), giostra del saracino (jousting tournament), palio di siena (horse race), ruzzola (game with wooden wheels), sartiglia (medieval ring race), and corsa delle botti (barrel rolling race). These games date back centuries and reflect important aspects of rural culture and folklore in their regions.

1. Living with Sport Culture -
Italian Traditional Games
Marco FABBRI

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“...culture springs out in a playful
shape, culture is first played. (...) So it
does not mean that the game changes
or converts itself in culture, but rather
that culture in its original phases,
brings the character of a game.”
(Johan Huizinga)
Premises

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Why games?

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Pallone elastico
The Pallone elastico, officially called
Pallapugno since 2001 and called balon
(pronounced "balùn") in idioms of
Piemonte and Liguria, is a team sport
played with a ball on a field without net.
Played in this way (maybe) since XIII
century, the game derive from the
harpastum Ancient Roman game.

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Pallone elastico
In the Nineteenth and twentieth
centuries the game went through a
crisis that led to its almost total
disappearance, with the exception of
certain areas of Piemonte and Liguria.
The game has always been a symbol of
rural culture and folklore of those
regions, where regular champioship are
organized.

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Borella
The first reference of this game is in a
1592 document. The game, a precursor
of bowling, was played in the Veneto
region (so the name borea in local
idiom). Although the game found more
fans in the country, not for this was
spurned by the residents in the city (a
1782 public order prohibits the game in
the city roads of Treviso).

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The Historic Florentine Soccer is a sport
that has its origins in ancient times:
maybe from the Ancient Roman game
called harpastum (derived from the
Ancient Greek game called
spheromachia).
It is a team game and is considered the
ancestor of the game of football,
although in the core resembles more
rugby.
Calcio Storico Fiorentino

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The oldest references are in the early
XV century.
The players (calcianti) were mostly
nobles (even future popes) between 18
and 45 years old and dressed the
gorgeous liveries of the time, which
gave the common name of the sport.
The last official game of the old era was
played in 1739, at the presence of Maria
Theresa, afterwards Empress of Austria.
Calcio Storico Fiorentino

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Since May 1930 (the rebirth date of the
game), except for the war period,
regularly games take place inside the
age-old city walls between the teams
from the four Historic Districts of
Florence: the "Bianchi" from Santo
Spirito, the "Azzurri" from Santa Croce,
the "Rossi" from Santa Maria Novella
and the "Verdi" from San Giovanni.
http://www.calciostoricofiorentino.it/
Calcio Storico Fiorentino

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The contest is an historical re-
enactment that takes place in the
medieval city of Arezzo probably since
XIII century. Participate in the four
districts in which the city is divided:
Port Crucifera, Porta del Foro, Porta
Sant'Andrea and Porta Santo Spirito.
Giostra del Saracino

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In the beginning this ride against a
puppet was probably a military
exercise, which slowly took on the
characteristics of a challenge between
the knights during special celebrations
or simply to demonstrate their ability.
Giostra del Saracino

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In Italian cities of the twelfth and
thirteenth centuries it was usual to
organize horse racing, both as a public
spectacle, both as a competition
between the various horse owned by
the noble or by the citizens.
Probably in memory of the important
battle of Montaperti (1260) and the
narrow escape that the Sienese decided
to establish the famous Palio.
Palio di Siena

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The Palio race derive its name (not only
in Siena) by the prize: the Palio (from
the Latin pallium: woolen cloak),
lovingly named cencio from the
citiziens, was generally a very fine
drape of fabric that was used for
different purposes. In Siena, in general,
was intended for the church of the
district who wins the race.
Palio di Siena

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The launch of the ruzzola is a game with
wooden wheels. It is a popular sport of
ancient origins, practiced in various
parts of the italian peninsula,
widespread and deeply rooted among
the popular classes until the end of the
nineteenth century. Road game,
practiced outdoors, on streets with little
traffic, more people (often in teams)
moving along the road with the
progress of the game
Ruzzola

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The Sartiglia is a race to the ring of
medieval origin (around 1300) which is
run in Oristano. It is one of the most
spectacular and choreographic forms of
Carnival of Sardinia. Duels and hazy
memories of the Crusades, spanish like
colors, echoes of fallen nobility and agro
pastoral costumes.
Sartiglia

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It's a tradition that dates back to the
nineteenth century when the boys of
the shop took care of the delivery of the
barrels, rolling them on the street and
engaging in real competitions.
Each team consists of 3 to 4 pushers
(plus a manager) who, in turn, may
exchange the task of pushing the barrel
("bonsa").
Only one competitor at a time, must
push the barrel that weighs about a ton.
Corsa delle botti

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Resources (traditional)
Johan HUIZINGA - “Homo Ludens” - 1938
Roger CAILLOIS - “Jeux et Sports” - 1968

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Resources (Web & multimedia)
Pallone elastico (NW area)
Borella (NE area)
Calcio Storico Fiorentino (Florence)
Giostra del Saracino (Arezzo)
Palio di Siena (Siena)
Ruzzola (Pontelandolfo)
Sartiglia (Oristano)
Corsa delle botti (many areas)

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Dr Marco FABBRI
SIM - Scuola Italiana di Mentoring
e-mail: mfabbri@scuolaitalianadimentoring.it
Web: www.scuolaitalianadimentoring.it
Thank you for your attention!