Ex NATO Stadium, Rugby union venue in Bagnoli, Italy.
The ex-NATO Stadium, now called Villaggio del Rugby, is a rugby union ground in Bagnoli, Naples, inside the former NATO base on viale della Liberazione. It has a covered central stand of 2,000 seats and a brick curva to the north of the pitch, currently closed. A synthetic pitch was laid for the 2019 Universiade.
The NATO base in Bagnoli was inaugurated on 4 April 1954, on a site the Fondazione Banco di Napoli had opened in 1938. NATO left for Lago Patria on 3 December 2012, and the stadium kept the name ex NATO. After rehabilitation, the sports site was inaugurated as Villaggio del Rugby on 30 June 2016.
The venue became a gathering place for rugby enthusiasts from the Naples area who came to watch matches and support their teams. It held importance for the local sports community as a dedicated space where the sport developed and found its following.
The venue sits in central Bagnoli with ample parking available for visitors arriving by car. Before planning a visit, check current accessibility conditions since the site may have restricted areas or limited access depending on its present status.
The stadium keeps the name ex NATO from the military base inaugurated on 4 April 1954, which NATO left on 3 December 2012 for Lago Patria. After renovation, the site reopened on 30 June 2016 as Villaggio del Rugby, owned by the Fondazione Banco di Napoli.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,531 contributors worldwide.