This will be a very peculiar situation: after over 100 years from the last tournaments, and following the historical recollections of a game which was played at the end of the 19th century, the Circolo Culturale “Emilio Agostini” with patronage from the Comune di Sassetta are organizing fot June 28 and 29 the first San Giovanni Palla Eh!/palla a 21 tournament.

Palla eh! or palla 21 is the southern-Tuscan version of a hand ball game which used to be spread in various parts of Europe, and which to date is still played in some (see our map). If you don’t know the game, please have a look at this video report, or visit the palla eh!/palla a 21 section at pibinko.org (https://www.pibinko.org/palla-a-21-or-palla-eh/).

In Sassetta there will be teams from the six hamlets where tournaments have been held since the mid-Seventies in addition to newly-created teams from Sassetta and Castagneto Carducci. Following a series of preparatory events since last September, the are learning to play with the supervision of Danilo Maurelli, one of the senior players from Ciciano.

With the pibinko.org network we have been conducting since 2007 numerous initiatives related to the promotion the game. For this reason we are very please that this tournament is taking place and we are really curious about the developments of this initiative!

Following Sassetta, from mid July on the “traditional” Summer tournaments will be taking place in Tirli, Scalvaia, Ciciano, Torniella, Vetulonia and Piloni (all the dates may be found in this article).

For more information: micalosapevo@pibinko.org or +393317539228