Historical Walking Tour: Station 8
Adenauer as a holidaymaker
When playing boccia, you have to think very carefully about which direction you are giving. I usually throw with my right hand, one of our teammates throws with his left hand, but I think the right hand is always much better. I think right and right are somehow connected. And that's why, in my opinion, throws with the right hand are much more promising than throws with the left hand.
In northern Italy, Adenauer also came into contact with the game of boccia, which immediately fascinated him, and which he henceforth practiced not only on vacation, but also "exported" to the Rhineland: In Rhöndorf he had his own boccia court built, in Cadenabbia he used a publicly accessible track outside the property of the "Villa La Collina". The two current fairways on the grounds of the villa are therefore not the original. Nevertheless, they offer the nice opportunity to follow in the footsteps of "the old man" and to emulate him in the game.
Since it was known that the chancellor usually played boccia late in the afternoon, a few German tourists usually gathered at the track to watch their head of government play. Some also spoke to Adenauer or thanked him. This resulted in unexpectedly touching scenes, of which Adenauer reported to the other guests after his return to the "Villa La Collina" with great emotion.
When playing boccia, Adenauer usually wore a light suit and a checked pepita hat, which soon became a kind of trademark of the chancellor on vacation. In Cadenabbia, a bronze statue erected in 2007 shows Adenauer playing boccia at the ferry pier. However, it is controversial because it is portrayed rather unfavorably in the shot throw. In any case, this special statue demonstrates Adenauer's close connection to the town of Cadenabbia and the way of life there.