Tag Archives: palla 21

Tattistampa and Palla a 21 among the “111 places in the Maremme that you really must discover”

Announcements,

After A piedi nel Far West – Itinerari enogastronomici maremmani, here is the second book by Irene Pellegrini, summarising her recent research in Southern Tuscany and Northern Latium. One way or another, some of the situations followed by the pibinko.org network are documented here, after being also narrated in the first book. We find palla a 21 (or palla eh!) and the awesome Wolfgang Scheibe with Tattistampa (and a touch of Jug Band Colline Metallifere):

Both books will be presented during the first cross-border hiking festival in the Maremme, in Rocchette di Fazio, Southern Tuscany, June 14 and 15, 2025. You may also order the books from:

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

June 28-29, 2025. First San Giovanni Tournament. Palla a 21/Palla eh! returns to Sassetta, Southern Tuscany

Announcements

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

The map of “ball” locations

Interactive Maps

Starting from the core of hamlets in Southern Tuscany, where palla eh!/palla a 21 is played, together with other localities we have interacted with for the game since 2007, here is an interactive map of “ball” (as in the variants of “jeux de paume“) places. We know that we start with gaps in regions where there are many locations (Piedmont, Spain, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Latin America, etc.), but this is an open exercise.

To add a new location to the map, or to correct/integrate the existing information: micalosapevo@pibinko.org or whatsapp +393317539228.

Clicking on a point you may see additional information, if available.

If you like this map and you would like to support it: micalosapevo@pibinko.org or +393317539228 for more information.

last update: Apr. 18, 2025

“Palla” class in Gavorrano, Southern Tuscany

Announcements

On Friday, Feb. 7, we had a morning of outreach on the ancient game of palla eh! or palla a 21 at the Falcone and Borsellino secondary school in Gavorrano, Southern Tuscany.

The initiative is taking place in the context of an ERASMUS student exchange project which will host another “palla episode” at the end of March.

In the meantime, a dozen of Gavorrano students had the opportunity of learning some background about the game, in addition to starting some practice, supervised by Gianluca Renieri and Davide Rossi from Associazione Palla Eh! in Vetulonia.

We thank the Institute for the interest in the game!

In the header image, at the end of the morning: Andrea Giacomelli (pibinko), Giacomo Pagliai, Silvia Cascinelli, Gianluca Renieri.

For more stories about palla eh! o palla a 21 in the pibinko.org network: https://www.pibinko.org/palla-a-21-or-palla-eh/

Sep. 7 and 8, 2024: 1st Palla eh/Palla a 21 “Six Hamlets Tournament”

Announcements

Saturday 7, and Sunday 8, Sep. 2024, the first edition of the “Six Hamlet” Palla eh!/palla 21 Tournament will be held in Piloni, Southern Tuscany.

In the traditional Summer tournamento which have been taking place since the Seventies, each of the participating villages will propose at least two teams. Depending on the combinations in the first day of the games, there may be cases where it is not always possible for different villages to challenge each other.
To handle this aspect, for each village a single team, composed by a selection of the best players, will be present.

Starting from 2PM, representatives of Piloni, Torniella, Scalvaia, Ciciano, Tirli, and Vetulonia will face each other in a first phase with two three-team rounds, and a final phase.

For more information: http://www.palla21.it or micalosapevo@pibinko.org