Stadio Olimpico, Olympic stadium in northern Rome, Italy.
The Stadio Olimpico is an oval bowl of blue tiered seating in two rings, split by a white concourse, with the lower ring close to a green pitch. A flat roof on a white framework covers the upper ring, and a dark rectangular scoreboard sits at the far end above the lower seats. The exterior has a light facade with tiers of rectangular openings and white stone benches stepping down in front.
Construction began in 1928 under the direction of Enrico Del Debbio and the venue first opened in 1932 under the name Stadio dei Cipressi. Final completion came only over two decades later in 1953 after interruptions caused by the war.
The stadium's nickname l'Olimpico dates from 1955, when Rome was awarded the 1960 Summer Olympics; before that it was called Stadio dei Centomila, the Stadium of the 100,000. Since 2008 it has hosted the Coppa Italia final, and since 2012 the Italian rugby union team plays its Six Nations home matches here. The record attendance for a concert was set in 1998, when 90,000 people came to a Claudio Baglioni show.
Visitors reach the venue via Metro Line A from Termini station followed by a bus connection to the complex. On major match days it is advisable to arrive early as public transport gets crowded and access routes fill up quickly.
During World War II construction work came to a complete halt and the site served allied forces as a parking area for military vehicles. Only after the war ended could work on the build resume and the original project be brought to completion.
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