The Home of Calcio! A Complete Guide to all 64 Italian Football Stadiums
64 Italian Football Stadiums: An All-encompassing Tour of Every Italian Football Stadium
One would only expect that the land that built the Colosseum as a symbol of entertainment would also have great stadiums and be super passionate about modern-day sports such as football. And they would be absolutely correct!
The worldwide passion for football is shared by both the Italian players and their fierce supporters.
Italy's Historical Passion for Football
Did you know that forms of football were played in Italy in ancient times? Yes, one of the earliest forms of ball game – called Harpastum - was played during the Roman Empire.
Many believe that this game was significantly influential to other forms of games that developed in this period throughout Europe.
Due to the expansion of the Empire, the game was popularised and influenced the formation of similar ball games, including Medieval football – the predecessor of modern football.
Calcio Fiorentino was one of the early forms of football originated in Italy in the Middle Ages.
As its popularity increased among the masses, people started to play it in the Piazza Santa Croce in Florence, and the game received the nickname “giuoco del calcio fiorentino” - the "Florentine kick game", or simply calcio – "kick" was later adopted for football in Italy.
The modern version of football was brought to Italy in the 1880s, by the merchant worker Edoardo Bosio, who experienced the game during his visit to England.
When he returned to Turing in 1887, he decided to help spread football in his homeland.
As the popularity of the game spread, eventually, the first Italian Football Stadium – San Siro- was built in 1926 in the San Siro District of Milan.
Since then, many more stadiums were built in Italy, and some of the most anticipated stadiums yet to be built are also in Italy.
So, it is no surprise that Italians love football!
Italy is also one of the most successful nations in football. In World Cups alone, they won four titles in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006, and they appeared in two other finals in 1970 and 1993, gaining third place in 1990.
Italy's club sides have also won 48 major European trophies, which made them the second most successful nation in European football.
Their top domestic league, the Serie A, is considered one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the world, often described as the most tactical national league.
Serie A also famously hosts 3 of the world's most famous clubs: Juventus, Milan and Inter, all of whom are founding members of the G-14 – the group which represented the largest and most prestigious European football clubs.
Italian managers are among the most successful in European Football, and Italy's players, both old and new ones, are a force to be reckoned with.
So, where do these players play and improve their skills?
How many stadiums are there in Italy, and how do the stadiums of Italy influence Italian football's success?
We have all the details right here, so let's just dive in!
A List of all 64 Italian Football Stadiums
Currently, Italy has 64 stadiums with a capacity of 10,000 and more.
The unique construction, beautiful location and characteristics are the things that make Italian stadiums stand out.
Even the smaller stadiums look amazing- and they are well worth a visit. These are all of the existing stadiums in Italy, with a capacity of 10,000 or more, listed by their size.
1. San Siro Stadium
Interesting Fact:
It's the oldest stadium, built in Italy in 1926 and renamed Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in honour of the two-time World Cup Winner Giuseppe Meazza.
Unfortunately, it was recently decided that the stadium would be demolished.
Located: Lombardy region, Milan
Capacity: 85,000
Home to: AC Milan and Internazionale Milan football clubs
UEFA Category 4 stadium: Yes
2. Stadio Olimpico
Interesting Fact:
Stadio Olimpico or Olympic Stadium is the largest sports facility in Rome, Italy. More so, Olimpico is considered Italy's national athletics stadium!
Located: Lazio region, Rome
Capacity: 70, 634
Home to: Roma and Lazio football clubs
UEFA Category 4 stadium: Yes
3. Stadio San Nicola
Interesting Fact:
Stadio San Nicola proudly wears the title of multi-use all-seater stadium as it is famous for being the go-to stadium for football matches. Built in the 1990s for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, this stadium stands out with its flower-like appearance. It consists of 26 'petals' and upper tiers of the higher ring that are separated by 8m empty spaces.
Located: Apulia region, Bari
Capacity: 58,270
Home to: Bari football club
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
4. Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona is Italy's third-largest football stadium by surface and the largest football stadium used by only one team – S.S.C. Napoli.
The stadium was renamed to its current name "Stadio Diego Armando Maradona" in honour of the former Napoli player Diego Maradona, who died on the 25th of November 2020.
Located: Campania region, Naples
Capacity: 54,726
Home to: S.S.C. Napoli
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
5. Stadio Artemio Franchi
Interesting Fact:
Stadio Artemio Franci was designed by the same architect who designed the Nervi Hall in the Vatican, and it is considered one of the most relevant examples of 20th-century architecture in Florence.
Located: Tuscany region, Florence
Capacity: 43,147
Home to: ACF Fiorentina
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
6. Juventus Stadium
Interesting Fact:
The Juventus Stadium, also known by the locals as Lo Stadium, this Stadium is built on the site of the former Stadio Delle Alpi in the later 2000s.
This stadium became the first club-owned football modern venue in the country and is completely modernised.
Located: Piedmont region, Turin
Capacity: 41,570
Home to: Juventus
UEFA Category 4 stadium: Yes
7. Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi
Interesting Fact:
Home to the Hellas Verona of Serie A (and former home of Chievo Verona until 2021), the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi is named after the historic benefactor of Veronese sport – Marcantonio Bentegodi.
It was renovated for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, but since then the newer renovation project from 2009 has been shelved.
Located: Veneto region, Verona
Capacity: 39,371
Home to: Hellas Verona team
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
8. Stadio San Filippo
Interesting fact:
Although the stadium was initially commissioned at the beginning of the 1990s, it was finished in 2004!
The name was derived from the neighborhood of Messina where it was built.
Located: Sicily region, Messina
Capacity: 38,722
Home to: Messina team
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
9. Stadio Renato Dall'Ara
Interesting fact:
The multi-purpose Stadio Renato Dall'Ara had replaced the Stadio Sterlino, and, when it was built in 1927, it was named Stadio Littoriale. It later received its current name after the former president of Bologna – Renato Dall'Ara.
Located: Emilia-Romagna region, Bologna
Capacity: 38,279
Home to: Bologna team
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
10. Stadio Renzo Barbera
Interesting Fact:
Stadio Renzo Barbera, also commonly known as La Favorita, was originally inaugurated during the Fascist era, on the 24th of January 1932. The original name was Stadio Littorio after the Italian word for the fasces symbol.
The stadium had several reconstructions and changes to its name. It was named Stadio Littorio from 1932–1936, then it got the name Stadio Michele Marrone from 1936–1945, then it was known as the Stadio La Favorita from 1945–2002, and in 2002 got its current name, Renzo Barbera.
Located: Sicily region, Palermo
Capacity: 38,279
Home to: Palermo F.C team
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
11. Stadio Luigi Ferraris
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris is a multi-use stadium that opened in 1911 and is considered the oldest stadium in Italy that is still in use for football. It is also used for other sports like rugby, as well as hosting concerts.
Located: Liguria region, Genoa
Capacity: 36,205
Home to: Genoa and Sampdoria
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
12. Stadio Nereo Rocco
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Nereo Rocco is named after the former player and manager of Triestina, Nereo Rocco.
Located: Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, Trieste
Capacity: 32,420
Home to: Triestina
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
13. Stadio Euganeo
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Euganeo replaced the old and historical Appiani stadium, and it is a multi-purpose stadium as it is used for hosting other events besides football matches, such as Rugby League, athletics and concerts.
Located: Veneto region, Padua
Capacity: 32,336
Home to: Calcio Padova team
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
14. Stadio Via del Mare
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Via del Mare was built in 1966, replacing the old Stadio Carlo Pranzo. The stadium was named after the street leading to the sea.
Located: Apulia region, Lecce
Capacity: 31,533
Home to: U.S. Lecce team
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
15. Stadio Arechi
Interesting Fact:
The Arechi Stadium is another rebuilt, multi-purpose stadium that was built to replace the older, former structure that was no longer able to host the growing audience of the team.
Located: Campania region, Salerno
Capacity: 31,300
Home to: Salernitana team
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
16. Stadio Flaminio
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Flaminio, which was built on the site of the previous Stadio Nazionale PNF, is located just 3km northwest of the centre of Rome and just 300m from the Parco di Villa Glori.
Its interior spaces include covered swimming pools as well as rooms for other sports like boxing, gymnastics, fencing and more.
Located: Lazio region, Rome
Capacity: 30,000
Home to: No teams
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
17. Stadio Renato Curi
Interesting Fact:
The stadium was originally built in 1974 in only 3 months, and it went under the name Stadio Pian di Masssiano.
The stadium was renamed after player Renato Curi in 1977 when the player tragically died from a heart attack during a game against Juventus.
Located: Umbria region, Perugia
Capacity: 28,000
Home to: A.C. Perugia Calcio team
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
18. Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino was originally constructed in the 1930s and named the Stadio Municipale Benito Mussolini.
Later, it was renamed the Stadio Comunale, and it wasn't until it was renovated in 2006 for the Winter Olympics that it got the name Stadio Olimpico.
Located: Piedmont region, Turin
Capacity: 27,958
Home to: Torino Team
UEFA Category 4 stadium: Yes
19. Stadio Erasmo Lacovone
Interesting Fact:
Keeping up the tradition of being renamed after significant players, the Stadio Salinella was renamed into Stadio Erasmo Lacovone.
Currently, it is a multi-use stadium mostly used for football matches.
Located: Apulia region, Taranto
Capacity: 27,584
Home to: Taranto Sport team
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
20. Stadio Oreste Granillo
Interesting Fact:
When the stadium was first built in 1932 it was known as the Stadio Michele Bianchi.
However, since it has changed names too many times, the stadium is mainly known as the Comunale (as the only football stadium in the city for years).
Located: Calabria region, Reggio Calabria
Capacity: 27,543
Home to: Reggina
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
21. Gewiss Stadium
Interesting Fact:
Gewiss Stadium is one of the earliest Italian football stadiums built, and one of the stadiums that went under many constructions and name changes.
The stadium was constructed originally to replace the old hippodrome.
Located: Lombardy region, Bergamo
Capacity: 22,512
Home to: Atalanta team
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
22. Stadio Partenio-Adriano Lombardi
Interesting Fact:
Stadio Partenio-Adriano Lombardi is a multi-purpose stadium that was dedicated to the former Avellino player Adriano Lombardi on the 9th of June 2011.
Located: Campania region, Avellino
Capacity: 26,000
Home to: U.S. Avellino team
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
23. Stadio Ciro Vigorito
Interesting Fact:
Albeit it is a multi-use stadium, the Stadio Ciro Vigorito is mostly used for football matches; the stadium was named after Ciro Vigorito who was a sports executive, journalist, and Italian entrepreneur working in the renewable energy sector.
Located: Campania region, Benevento
Capacity: 25,554
Home to: Benevento Calcio team
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
24. Stadio Fiuli – Dacia Arena
Interesting Fact:
When the stadium originally opened in 1976 as a replacement for the Stadio Moretti, it had a capacity of 41,652 seats. However, in more recent constructions they reduced the capacity to 25,144.
Located: Friuli-Venezia region, Udine
Capacity: 25,144
Home to: Udinese
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
25. Stadio Pino Zaccheria
Interesting Fact:
Stadio Pino Zaccheria was inaugurated in 1925 and later re-named after the valiant lieutenant and athlete from Foggia, Pino Zaccheria, who lost his life during the Greco-Italian War in 1941.
Located: Apulia region, Foggia
Capacity: 25,085
Home to: Foggia Calcio team
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
26. Arena Garibaldi
Interesting Fact:
One of the oldest Italian football stadiums, Arena Garibaldi opened in 1919.
Located: Tuscany region, Pisa
Capacity: 25,000
Home to: Pisa S.C.
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
27. Stadio San Vito
Interesting Fact:
San Vito Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium. Besides football matches, it has also hosted several concerts, including Sting’s Ten Summoner's Tour and Bob Dylan’s European Tour.
Located: Calabria region, Cosenza
Capacity: 24,479
Home to: Cosenza Calcio
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
28. Stadio del Conero
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio del Conero used to be the home of the Italian football club A.C. Ancona, until 2010 when the club was cancelled by every league.
Located: Marche region, Ancona
Capacity: 23,976
Home to: U.S Ancona A.S.D.
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
29. Stadio Dino Manuzzi
Interesting Fact:
When the stadium was built in 1957 it had no seats, only two terraces. It was only when it was rebuilt in 1973 to accommodate AC Cesena, who reached Serie A status, that the stadium expanded and got seats.
Then it had 30,000 spectators, but with the complete reconstruction of 1988, the number went down to 23,860.
Located: Emilio-Romagna region, Cesena
Capacity: 23,860
Home to: Cesena
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
30. Stadio Mapei Stadium – Citta del Tricolore
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Mapei Stadium – Citta del Tricolore was built in 1995 to replace the Stadio Mirabello; its original name was Stadio Giglio.
Located: Emilia-Romagna region, Reggio Emilia
Capacity: 23,525
Home to: U.S. Sassuolo and A.C. Reggiana
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
31. Stadio Angelo Massimino
Interesting Fact:
Stadio Angelo Massimino is one of Italy's best-known stadiums. The stadium was built in 1935 by the architect Raffaele Leone on behalf of the company owned by the engineer Antonio Ferro.
The stadium has hosted many national and international matches as well as a few international rugby matches.
Located: Sicily region, Catania
Capacity: 23,266
Home to: Calcio Catania
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
32. Stadio Ennio Tardini
Interesting Fact:
Stadio Ennio Tradini, also known as II Tardini by the locals, is located in the heart of Parma, between the town centre and the city walls. The stadium carries the name of Parma's former president, Ennio Tardini.
Located: Emilia-Romagna region, Parma
Capacity: 22,352
Home to: Parma
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
33. Stadio Riviera delle Palme
Interesting Fact:
Lying on the coast between San Benedetto and its civil parish Porto d'Ascoli, the stadium designed by Luigi Corradi and Vincenzo Acciarri was awarded as the best sports work in steel and pre-fabricated reinforced concrete at European Level.
Located: Marche region, San Benedetto del Tronto
Capacity: 22,000
Home to: S.S. Sambenedettese Calcio
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
34. Stadio Leonardo Garilli
Interesting Fact:
The Stadium Leonardo Garilli was previously named 'Galleana' after the area of the city in which it is located. However, after the gratitude that the city and fans had for the former president of the former Piacenza, Leonardo Garilli, the stadium changed its name.
Located: Emilia-Romagna region, Piacenza
Capacity: 21,668
Home to: Piacenza Calcio 1919 and from 2014 Pro Piacenza 1919
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
35. Stadio Alberto Braglia
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Alberto Braglia has been a temporary home to Modena F.C. 2018, Carpi, Sassuolo and it occasionally hosts selected matches for the Italian national football team. The stadium also hosts rugby matches.
Located: Emilia-Romagna region, Modena
Capacity: 21,092
Home to: Modena F.C.
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
36. Stadio Giovanni Zini
Interesting Fact:
Stadio Giovanni Zini is another in the line of older stadiums build in 1919, and it was named after historic World War I Veteran and goalkeeper of U.S. Cremonese, Giovanni Zini.
The stadium, besides football matches, also hosts rugby matches, including Italy's end-of-year Rugby Union International in 2013
Located: Lombardy region, Cremona
Capacity: 20,641
Home to: Cremonese
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
37. Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca
Interesting Fact:
Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca is a multi-purpose stadium that has hosted many football matches and 2 end-of-year Rugby Union Internationals since 1962, when the stadium was originally built.
Located: Marche region, Ascoli Piceno
Capacity: 20,550
Home to: Ascoli
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
38. Stadio Adriatico
Interesting Fact:
Stadio Adriatico was originally designed in 1955 by Luigi Piccanato and it was envisioned as a multipurpose athletic facility and a centre for the Italian National Olympic Committee.
It has hosted many matches for the Italy national football team, as well as some of the preliminary football games during the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Located: Abruzzo region, Pescara
Capacity: 20,515
Home to: Pescara
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
39. Stadio Armando Picchi
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Armando Picchi was built in 1933 and it was named after Edda Ciano Mussolini.
The name changed in 1945; briefly in the post-war period the nearby Camp Darby logistic base was re-named the stadium Yankee Stadium when it was used by the Americans, then the stadium was renamed Stadio Comunale di Livorno when it underwent a summary renovation for the 1960 Summer Olympics.
The stadium received its current name in the 1990s.
Located: Tuscany region, Livorno
Capacity: 19,238
Home to: Livorno
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
40. Stadio Brianteo
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Brianteo was envisioned to be the replacement for the Stadio Gino Alfonso Sada; the construction work was one of the longer ones as it started after a long debate and lasted even longer due to technical difficulties.
Located: the Lombardy region, in Monza
Capacity: 18,568
Home to: Monza
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
41. Stadio Silvio Piola Novara
Interesting Fact:
Named after the Italian legend and former player Silvio Piola, the Stadium Silvio Piola Novara is a multi-use stadium.
Located: Piedmont region, Novara
Capacity: 17,875
Home to: Novara Calcio
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
42. Stadio Libero Liberati
Interesting Fact:
While most stadiums are typically named after football players, the Stadio Libero Liberati, which was built in 1969, was actually named after the motorcycle racer Libero Liberati.
Located: Umbria region, Terni
Capacity: 17,460
Home to: Ternana
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
43. Stadio Mario Rigamonti
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Mario Rigamonti follows the tradition of being named after famous players; specifically, the stadium was named after a defender of the Grande Torino, Mario Rigamonti, who died in the Superga air disaster in May 1949.
Located: Lombardy region, Brescia
Capacity: 19,550
Home to: Brescia Calcio
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
44. Stadio Ezio Scida
Interesting Fact:
Up until 1999, the stadium was a rather modest structure that could host an event with up to 5,000 people.
However, at the beginning of the millennium, it doubled the capacity to almost 10,000 seats, and then when Crotone got promoted to the Serie A in 2016, Stadio Ezio Scida further got renovated and expanded its capacity to over 16,000.
Located: Calabria region, Crotone
Capacity: 16,547
Home to: Crotone
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
45. Stadio Carlo Castellani
Interesting Fact:
Located in the sporting district of Empoli, on the Viale delle Olimpiadi, the Stadio Carlo Castellabu was formed by 2 tribunes and 2 curves.
Its name changed to Carlo Castellani in 1965, after the former football player.
Located: the Tuscany region, in Empoli
Capacity: 16,284
Home to: Empoli F.C.
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
46. Stadio Sardegna Arena
Interesting Fact:
Stadio Sardegna Arena is one of the newly built stadiums.
The necessity to have an arena that will host Cagliari Calcio's football matches since the Stadio Sant'Elia was closed and partly demolished resulted in the building of Stadio Sardegna Arena.
The construction was fully completed in 2021.
Located: Sardinia region, Cagliari
Capacity: 16,233
Home to: Cagliari
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
47. Stadio Paolo Mazza
Interesting Fact:
Stadio Paolo Mazza is built in the immediate vicinity of the Campo di Piazza d'Armi, the stadium of Ferrara, which is the fifth oldest Italian ground still in operation.
For almost a decade (2005-2016) the stadium's capacity was limited to 7,500 for safety reasons as well as containment.
However, since SPAL were promoted to Serie B, and later Serie A, the stadium was reconstructed and modernised.
Located: Emilia-Romagna region, Ferrara
Capacity: 16,134
Home to: SPAL
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
48. Stadio Benito Stripe
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Benito Stripe has one of the longest construction periods, as the stadium remained unfinished for about 30 years.
It was finally completed to be the largest stadium in the province when the local football team, Frosinone Calcio, took initiative and won a lease for the stadium from the local council for the next 90 years.
Located: Lazio region, Frosinone
Capacity: 15,125
Home to: Frosinone
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
49. Stadio Artemio Franchi
Interesting Fact:
This stadium was built in 1923, but it may soon be replaced by a new stadium on the southern outskirts of the city at Isola d'Arbia.
The new stadium's design is revolutionary and was honored with a MIPIM AR Future Projects Award.
Located: Tuscany region, Siena
Capacity: 15,373
Home to: A.C.N. Siena
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
50. Stadio Danilo Martelli
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Danilo Martelli, which was named after the Mantuan footballer from the 1940s, was supposed to be renovated but the plan was put on hold due to the bottom division of Mantova.
Located: Lombardy region, Mantua
Capacity: 14,844
Home to: Mantova
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
51. Stadio Nicola Ceravolo
Interesting Fact:
Stadio Nicola Ceravolois is one of the oldest stadiums in Italy as it was built in 1919. The stadium is also a third of capacity in Calabria.
Located: Calabria region, Catanzaro
Capacity: 14,650
Home to: Catanzaro
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
52. Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia
Interesting Fact:
Another old stadium with a rich history, the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia was built on the precise will of Benito Mussolini and completed in 1927.
It was later named after the war hero who was a native of Como – Giuseppe Sinigaglia.
Located: Lombardy region, Como
Capacity: 13,602
Home to: Como
UEFA Category 4 stadium: no
53. Stadio Marcello Melani
Interesting Fact:
The stadium Marcello Melani was dedicated to Marcello Melani, who was the only president to see the club's promotion to Serie A in its history.
Located: Tuscany region, Pistoia
Capacity: 13,195
Home to: Pistoiese
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
54. Stadio Citta di Arezzo
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Citta di Arezzo was built in 1961 to replace the old stadium in the city, and it was named after a young martyr in the First World War, medal gold for military valour called Arezzo Bersagliere Giuseppe Mancini.
The name translates to "City of Arezzo".
Located: Tuscany region, Arezzo
Capacity: 13,128
Home to: Arezzo
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
55. Stadio Romeo Menti
Interesting Fact:
In recent years, the Stadio Romeo Menti was restored and modernised. It is considered Vicenza's "impregnable fort" and it has a rather fascinating history.
Located: Veneto region, Vicenza
Capacity: 13,000
Home to: Vicenza
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
56. Stadio Romeo Menti
Interesting Fact:
The second stadium named after Romeo Menti, this time located in Castellammare di Stabia, is the home ground of S.S. Juve Stabia and it was opened in 1984.
Located: Campania region, Castellammare di Stabia
Capacity: 13,000
Home to: Juve Stabia
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
57. Stadio Simonetta Lamberti
Interesting Fact:
With beautiful hills and mountains as its background, the Stadio Simonetta Lamberti opened in 1969, and it is mostly used for football matches.
Located: Campania region, Cava de' Tirreni
Capacity: 12,200
Home to: Cavese
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
58. Stadio Bruno Benelli
Interesting Fact:
Stadio Bruno Benelli is another multi-use stadium that is mostly used by the local team and for football matches.
Located: Emilia-Romagna region, Ravenna
Capacity: 12,020
Home to: Ravenna
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
59. Stadio Alberto Pinto
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Alberto Pinto, besides being used for football matches, has also been used for athletics and music concerts. It was recently renovated, in 2019 and 2020.
Located: Campania region, Caserta
Capacity: 12,000
Home to: Caserta
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
60. Stadio Arturo Collana
Interesting Fact:
The Stadio Arturo Collana originally opened in 1929. During World War II, it was briefly named Stadio della Lberazione, but it then went to Stadio Arturo Collana.
The stadium became multi-purpose after it was restored in the 1970s.
Located: Campania region, Napoli
Capacity: 12,000
Home to: None
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
61. Stadio Vanni Sanna
Interesting Fact:
Stadium Vanni Sanna's original name was Torres stadium, then in the 1970s it changed into Acquedotto stadium, only to be once again changed in 2001 after Giovanni Sanna, a football player from Alghero.
After Toress club and the Municipality of Sassari reached an agreement in 2020 for the club to manage the stadium for the next 15 years, the Stadio Vanni Sanna received a new turf.
Located: Sardegna region, Sassari
Capacity: 12,000
Home to: S.E.F. Torres 1903, Torres Calcio Femminile, U.S.D. Latte Dolce
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
62. Stadio Alberto Picco
Interesting Fact:
Stadio Alberto Picco is another local stadium with a rich history, as it is one of the oldest Italian stadiums. It was built in 1919 and this football stadium has been the home of Spezia Calcio since then.
Located: Liguria region, Spezia Calcio
Capacity: 10,336
Home to: La Spezia
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
63. Arena Civica
Interesting Fact:
In 1824, Jeanne Geneviève Labrosse, the world's first female parachutist, dropped into the Arena Civica. Arena Civica is also one of the city's main examples of neoclassical architecture.
It is one of the oldest arenas built and it first opened in 1807.
The arena has a rich history of hosting various events, including the reconstruction of naval battles. It also hosted the "Wild West Show" twice and it has been used for concerts by world-famous musicians.
Located: Lombardia region, Alcione
Capacity: 10,000
Home to: Milan (1941-1945) and Inter Milan (1930-1947)
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
64. Stadio Omobono Tenni
Interesting Fact:
Built in 1933, the Stadio Omobono Tenni was named after a motorcycle road racer – Omobono Tenni.
He lived in Treviso and fatally died in 1948 in Bern, Switzerland. In 1960, the stadium also hosted a Rugby League International.
Located: Veneto region, Treviso
Capacity: 10,000
Home to: Treviso
UEFA Category 4 stadium: No
Why Do Italian Football Stadiums Appear Outdated to Some People?
Italy has some of the most beautiful stadiums in the world. However, some would believe that their stadiums have become a bit old-fashioned in recent years.
Many fans, players and even club CEOs claim that they also consider the stadiums to be rather outdated.
In an interview with CNN, the former AC Milan CEO Gazidis recently claimed:
"New sustainable infrastructures are the foundations for building the future of football, and in Italy, this is a step that must be taken.
Football in Italy was at the top of the world 20, and 30 years ago, but it failed to build a foundation for the future.
It must do so if it is to have a sustainable, solid, and exciting tomorrow. Italian football can do it, the potential it can unlock is incredible."
You may wonder, wait, the CEO of a club can invest in the stadiums, can’t he? The answer is, not really.
The situation is a bit more complex, as only a handful of Italian clubs own their stadiums. These clubs include Juventus, Sassuolo, Udinese and Atalanta, among others.
Other Serie A club stadiums are owned by the state. Therefore, whenever any changes or restorations are needed, even if the club has prepared funds and projects, the project is rarely accepted, and to be completed it has to go through a lot of bureaucratic procedures.
This was the case with the AC Milan and Inter Milan football clubs, who play in the famous San Siro stadium.
The San Siro was renovated in 1990, but it has been over 20-30 years since its last restoration and the stadium still has an overly-high capacity.
Whenever there is a game, fans are seated far away from the pitch which doesn't make the viewing pleasurable. Not to mention the high prices clubs pay for playing in these stadiums.
That's why AC and Inter Milan requested a new stadium to be built in the place of San Siro.
Originally, the plan was that some aspects of San Siro remain, like the iconic spiral stairs, and the stadium be partly demolished after the 2026 Winter Olympic games.
Nonetheless, the Regional Commission for the cultural heritage of Lombardy in 2022 deemed that the stadium has no 'cultural interest'.
This gave AC Milan and Inter Milan the green light for demolishing the stadium and beginning with their new plans for a new €1 billion stadium with 60,000 seating capacity that would replace the San Siro stadium.
This was a long negotiation with a successful proposal and ending for the famous clubs, but not all Italian clubs get this lucky.
Many get their proposals for new stadiums or restoration of old stadiums stuck in endless bureaucratic procedures.
This results in clubs putting the infrastructure in second place and favouring investment in players instead.
Clubs not owning their stadiums but renting them further contributes to a loss in revenue, which hurts their spending power.
Compared to other top leagues in Europe, such as England and Spain, Italy are also falling behind in terms of marketing and TV rights.
All of these aspects combined can be damaging to the football clubs and their games in the long run.
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