Italy’s top division may not be the most competitive in Europe at the moment but there is still
plenty to admire in Serie A. They have some of the best players in world football, some of
the most historical matches in the game and, they also possess some quite memorable
stadiums.
Those who remember back to Italia 90 – or have watched some of its games since – will recall
that the drama was played out in some very impressive settings across the country. Somehow,
it was a fitting backdrop to the tournament and the architecture was almost as memorable as
the action on the pitch. But whose grounds rank in the top three across the division?
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Inside the Juve Arena
Opened in 2011, the Juventus Stadium obviously wasn’t on the schedule when Italia 90 was
played out and it’s rare for the purists to be so impressed by a new ground. While the
previous home for the ‘Old Lady’, the Stadio delle Alpi, was memorable in its own right, it
was unpopular with home fans due to the unused running track that separated them from the
pitch by some distance.
The new arena was therefore built on the previous site and maybe it has played a part in
Juve’s resurgence. Champions of Serie A for five straight seasons from 2011/12 onwards,
Juventus are going to be among the favourites in bet365’s Serie A betting markets for the
foreseeable future and they have yet to relinquish the title while based at their new home.
The Stadium itself is a 41,507 seat all-seater venue and with the stands just 7.5 metres from
the pitch, it’s an improvement for fans who no longer have to take their binoculars to a game.
Clearly, the new arena has done much to improve Juve’s fortunes as they assert their
dominance in Italian domestic football.
Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
Built in 1911, this is one of the oldest sporting venues in the whole of Italy and it was one of
the most distinctive and iconic stadiums at the 1990 World Cup. With its attractive columns
at each corner of the ground, this is arguably the first arena that neutral football fans will
want to visit.
Originally home to Genoa CFC from its inception, the Luigi Ferraris has also hosted
Sampdoria since 1946 and has also seen the Italian national rugby team play here in more
recent times. With a capacity of just 36,599, it is one of the smaller venues in Serie A but
what it lacks in size it more than makes up for with sheer beauty.
San Siro, Milan
Home to both Milan giants AC and Inter, the steep sides of the San Siro can be seen towering
over much of the city. With a capacity at a shade over 80,000, this is also the largest stadium
in Italy and therefore, it’s no surprise that it has played host to a number of major footballing
events, including the European Cup Finals of 1965, 1970, 2001 and 2016.
The stands here are right up against the pitch and the sharply rising banks have drawn
inevitable comparisons with Roman amphitheatres. The design and the overall capacity
ensures an unforgettable atmosphere too, making the San Siro one of your must-see stadiums
as you make your way around Serie A.