It can be said the Bocce is the Italian version of game of lawn bowling.
The history of Bocce can be traced to the Italian Alps.
In this early form of Bocce, stones were thrown to land as close as possible to a target.
Eventually, over time the stones were replaced with Balls and they were rolled instead of thrown.
The early Bocce balls were carved from hard olive wood.
The game of Bocce became so popular, that Kings Carlos IV and V prohibited the playing of bocce because it interfered with military training.
In 1576, the Republic of Venice introduced fines and imprisonment for those caught playing Bocce.
In Great Britain, Bocce was very popular with Queen Elizabeth I.
In 1947, the first Bocce World Championships took place.
The name, "Bocce", is derived from the Vulgate Latin bottia, meaning boss.
Umberto Granaglia of Itally is considered the greatest Bocce player of all time.
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