Stadium Tours: Not just the oldest venue but a post-modern MASTERPIECE in Italy

The Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris, also known as the Marassi from the name of the neighbourhood where it is located, is a multi-use stadium in Genoa, Italy.

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Key facts

Clubs: Genoa CFC & UC Sampdoria

Opening: 1911

Capacity: 36,599 seats

History and description

Stadio Luigi Ferraris got built in 1910 after Genoa socio Musso Piantelli came up with the idea to use the ground inside a racecourse for a football pitch. His proposal got accepted and the new stadium opened on the 22nd of January 1911.

The stadium originally only consisted of one wooden stand, but it quickly got expanded in the 1920s and 1930s to a capacity of about 30,000 places.

In 1933, the stadium got renamed to Stadio Luigi Ferraris, in honour of the former captain of Genoa who had died in the first World War.

One year later, the stadium hosted the round of 16 match between Spain and Brazil (3-1) at the 1934 World Cup.

Stadio Luigi Ferraris was until 1946 the sole home of Genoa, but when Sampdoria git founded in that year, it requested to share the ground, which was accepted by Genoa.

In the following decades, the stadium got gradually expanded to a maximum capacity of about 55,700 places in the 1980s.

Stadio Luigi Ferraris was almost completely rebuilt for the 1990 World Cup. Construction of the characteristic new stadium, designed by architect Vittoria Gregotti, started in 1987 and was completed in 1989. Works were performed gradually as to allow Genoa and Sampdoria to keep playing at the stadium.

During the World Cup, three group matches and the round of 16 match between the Republic of Ireland and Romania (0-0) were played at the stadium.

In the last decade, only minor renovations have been performed on the stadium, and its state has slowly deteriorated. Over the years, Genoa and Sampdoria have therefore looked into either redeveloping Stadio Luigi Ferraris, or into building a complete new stadium. Currently, however, no concrete plans exist.

The stadium was also equipped with two giant screens for this event. Those video screens are still there, but are a bit outdated. During the World Cup, Stadio Luigi Ferraris hosted three Group C matches (between Costa Rica, Scotland, and Sweden) and one round-of-16 match between Ireland and Romania.

All four stands of the stadium are covered and have two tiers. The Distinti Stand is the only stand of the ground which has three tiers and is the most impressive stand of them all. With no running track and stands so close to the pitch, the atmosphere is fantastic. The most fanatic supporters of UC Sampdoria are housed in the Gradinata Sud (Italian for “South Grandstand,”) the stand behind one of the goal ends. For Genoa CFC games, the Gradinata Nord (“North Grandstand”) is the main section for the home supporters. 

Probably unique in the world, Stadio Luigi Ferraris has two away sections inside the ground. Away fans are located in one of the corners on both the first and second tiers of the Main Stand (“Tribuna”); which away section depends on if Genoa or Sampdoria is playing their home match.