As youngsters spending our summers at the beach clubs that surrounded Long Island Sound, the male members of the family would gather on a Sunday afternoon at the rustic dirt bocce court after a copious lunch to play their favorite game.Ā No women were grantedĀ access to this fraternity;Ā and only as children were we toleratedĀ and allowed to watch this ancient sport. Ā The stillness of the summer afternoon was broken by the clinking sound of the balls as they hit, bounced and rolled to rest inside the wooden framed court.Ā The larger balls nestled nearest to the pallino (little ball)Ā would earn points to ultimately win the game.Ā The match would at times become boisterous as competition was fierce and the use of an overturned tin can with a string attached was used to measure the precise distance between the balls so as to award the appropriate team points.
Sometimes the balls were so close that they were said to be ākissingā.Ā Baci the players would shout!!
The game of bocce is firmly rooted in my remembrances of childhood summers -long, slow and carefree.
So it should be no surprise that when we purchased Casa Le Crete one of our first additions would be that of a bocce court.
Our caretaker, Stefano, was only too happy to assist with the design that Arturo had provided.
Later this month when we arrive back in Italia we will have our first match as family and friends arrive.
Let the games begin!!!
An impressive addition to the property. Have fun!
We arrive this week. Family follows later. Won’t be long until the first match. Looking forward to the cool autumn in Umbria. Thanks for checking in.