Pallone

Pallone (pronounced [palˈloːne]; Italian for an inflated ball, source of the English word balloon) is the name of several traditional ball games, played in all regions of Italy, with few differences in regulations. From the middle of the 16th century until 1910, Italian professional players of pallone col bracciale were the richest and top paid athletes in all the world.

Pallone col bracciale or simply bracciale was particularly popular throughout Italy and it was considered the most popular sport of ancient Italian national sports since the 16th century and its first official regulations invented by Antonio Scaino from Salò date back to 1555. This sport and its champions were described by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Karl Philipp Moritz, Christian Joseph Jagemann, Richard Colt Hoare, Jacob Burckhardt, William Wetmore Story, Giacomo Leopardi, Edmondo de Amicis, Giuseppe Baretti, Antonio Francesco Grazzini, Ottavio Rinuccini, Gabriello Chiabrera, Tommaso Grossi, Giuseppe Gioachino Belli. Bracciale was played also in France, Germany, Austria, England, Netherlands and famous Italian champions organized tournaments in USA, Argentina, Egypt. Where Angels Fear to Tread (1991) includes a brief film depiction of this game.

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