At a glance

Type

Multi-use sports stadium (football, rugby, athletics)

Period

Current structure opened 1963; major renovations for FIFA World Cup 1990

Style

Mid-20th-century reinforced concrete stadium

Location

Borgo Venezia district, Verona, Veneto, Italy

Coordinates

45.4351° N, 10.9678° E

Overview

The Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi is a stadium in Verona, Italy, and is the home of Hellas Verona of Serie A. It was also the home of Chievo Verona, a former football club, until 2021. With 39,211 total seats — of which 31,713 are currently approved — it ranks as the eighth-largest stadium in Italy by capacity. Beyond football, the venue hosts women’s team Bardolino Verona, youth team matches, rugby, athletics meetings, and occasional large-scale concerts.

History

A stadium on this site in the Borgo Venezia district dates to the early 20th century, but the current reinforced concrete structure was opened in 1963 to replace a more modest earlier ground. The stadium underwent major expansion and renovation works in preparation for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, when it hosted several group-stage matches. The venue is named after Marcantonio Bentegodi (1793–1838), a Veronese nobleman and benefactor who left a large legacy for the promotion of physical exercise and sport among the youth of the city — a tradition reflected in the stadium’s ongoing role as Verona’s primary sporting arena.

What you see

The stadium presents an oval bowl of four covered stands, with a running track surrounding the central pitch. The main grandstand (Tribuna) faces west and houses the press areas and VIP facilities. A large video screen provides real-time match information. The exterior is characterised by the functional concrete and steel aesthetic typical of Italian stadium architecture of the 1960s, with later canopy additions above the upper tiers. The surrounding area includes open plazas and parking facilities, and the ground is easily visible from the nearby ring road.

Cultural significance

The Bentegodi is inseparable from Veronese civic identity: Hellas Verona’s passionate supporter culture — the Curva Sud — is one of the most distinctive in Italian football, and the stadium has been the scene of historic moments including the club’s only Serie A title (1984–85 season). As a 1990 World Cup venue, the ground also holds a place in global football history, having hosted matches witnessed by audiences of hundreds of millions worldwide.

Practical information

Address

Piazzale Olimpia, 37136 Verona VR, Italy

Opening hours

Open only on match days and for scheduled events; check Hellas Verona official website for fixtures and ticket information

Admission

Ticketed for matches and events

Getting there

Verona Porta Nuova railway station connects to Milan, Venice, and Bologna via high-speed and regional services. From the station, bus lines run to the Bentegodi area (approx. 20 minutes). By car, exit at Verona Nord or Verona Sud on the A4 motorway and follow signs toward Borgo Venezia. On match days, public buses from the city centre are strongly recommended.

Sources & resources

• Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi — Wikipedia
• Hellas Verona FC — official club and stadium information
• Cultural Heritage Online — discover more Italian heritage sites