Bocce

ball sport · strategy game · Italian tradition

Roll for precision. In bocce, players take turns rolling heavy balls called bocce, trying to get them as close as possible to a tiny target ball called the pallino. The team whose ball lands closest to the pallino wins points.

Ancient Roman roots. Bocce comes from games that people played in the Roman Empire thousands of years ago. It evolved over time and became the version we know today in Italy.

Traveled the world. Italian immigrants brought bocce with them when they moved to places like Australia, Argentina, and Brazil. Now people play it all across Europe and in many countries overseas.

A social game. Bocce is often played outdoors in parks and is as much about having fun with friends and family as it is about winning. Players of all ages can enjoy it together.

Close cousins. Bocce is part of the boules family, which includes similar games like French pétanque and English bowls, all with the same basic idea of rolling balls toward a target.