Lazio visitor guide | Stadio Olimpico guide
The Stadio Olimpico in Rome is the home ground of S.S. Lazio, one of the oldest football teams in Italy. The club shares the stadium with local rivals A.S Roma; it is also home to the Italian national football team. The 73,000 capacity venue was opened in 1937 and is currently the major stadium in the Italian capital. The Stadio Olimpico is one of the two football grounds in Italy to hold a UEFA 5-star rating and will be hosting the final of the 2009 UEFA Champions League tournament. Throughout its history, the stadium has hosted, alongside home games of S.S. Lazio, the 1960 Olympic Games, 1987 World Athletics Championships, matches of the 1990 FIFA World Cup and finals of the European Championship, European Cup and Champions League. The stadium is regularly regarded as one of the finest football venues in the world. Liverpool F.C. has won two European cups at the Stadio Olimpico; first in 1977 and then in 1984 with victories over Borussia Monchengladbach and A.S Roma respectively.
Fans travelling here to watch their team play will most likely find themselves seated in the Distinti Ospiti in the northwest section of the stadium. The views of the action are excellent but the queue to get into the ground can be a bit of an arduous undertaking. The best advice is to arrive before kick-off with plenty of time to spare. Refreshments such as food and beer are available inside the Stadio Olimpico.
The stadium is located in northern Rome, about 3.5 miles from the city centre. Rome is the biggest city in Italy and a popular international tourist destination; fans looking for accommodation will find no shortage of hotels near the Stadio Olimpico. MATCHhotels.com lists 50 hotels close to the stadium and features many more on its map.
If you are coming to watch your team play at the Stadio Olimpico, then it is likely that you will be arriving in Rome by plane. The city of Rome is served by both the Leonardo Da Vinci International (Fiumicino) and Rome Ciampino airports. The first is about 22 miles from the centre of Rome and is served by the Leonardo Express, a dedicated train service that links the airport terminal to the Roma Termini Station in the city centre. The journey takes about 30 minutes and two connections run every hour. Ciampino airport is about 9.5 miles from the centre of Rome and handles many budget European airlines. The airport has no rail connection but a number of bus services are on offer. Several companies run shuttle buses to the Roma Termini train station in central Rome; the journey takes around 40 minutes and there are around 20 services a day. Alternatively, buses can be taken from outside the terminal building to the Anagnina metro station from where regular services run to Roma Termini. The metro journey takes about 30 minutes. Those prepared to spend more money can always take a taxi from either airport.
Thanks to the extensive transport system, getting around Rome is relatively easy. Your journey to the stadium largely depends upon where in the city you have chosen your Stadio Olimpico hotel, so it is advised to pick up a local transport map and plan your journey in advance. The centrally located Roma Termini railway station is Rome's main transport hub and it is likely that your journey to the stadium will pass through here or nearby no matter what method of transport you take. From the city centre the Stadio Olimpico can be reached by buses 32, 280 and also tram number 225.
