“Veduta del Campo de’ Giesuiti” from the “Gran Teatro di Venezia”, published by Domenico Lovisa, c. 1717.
The Venetians played ball games of various kinds. The game of Calcio is the one sounds most modern, but it wasn’t exactly like it’s played today. Far from it, in fact.
The Venetians of yore played ball games for fun and sports. Some of these ball games were similar to modern sports, even if not excessively
“Nobile al Giuoco del Calcio” (Nobleman at the game of Calcio) from the Gli abiti de veneziani (1754) by Giovanni Grevembroch, translated by René Seindal.
“Nobile al Giuoco del Pallone” (Nobleman playing at ball) from the Gli abiti de veneziani (1754) by Giovanni Grevembroch, translated by René Seindal.
Every stone in Venice tells a story. Recently I stumbled upon a stone telling a story of gaming. It had incised a Nine men’s Morris game board