Roma visitor guide | Stadio Olimpico guide
The Stadio Olimpico has been the home ground of A.S. Roma since the team moved here from the Stadio Nazionale PNF in 1952. The 73,000 capacity venue was built in 1936 and is now the major stadium of Rome. As well as A.S. Roma, the ground is also home to local rivals S.S. Lazio and the Italian national football team. The Stadio Olimpico is a UEFA 5-star rated football stadium and will be hosting the final of the 2009 UEFA Champions League. Other important matches to take place here have been the final of the 1990 World Cup and the finals of the 1980 and 1968 European Championships. The stadium also hosted the 1960 Olympic Games.
Visiting supporters will find themselves seated in the Distinti Ospiti in the northwest corner of the ground. Although this stand provides excellent views of the action, some fans have mentioned that the seats and facilities are somewhat poor and in need of an upgrade. As is to be expected of such a large capacity venue, the queues before kick-off can be quite long so it is advised to arrive at the stadium with time to spare. Fans in search of refreshment will find food, drinks and beer available inside the ground.
The stadium is located in northern Rome, about 3.5 miles from the city centre. Check out the MATCHhotels.com map for the precise location. Rome is a massively popular tourist destination so fans looking for accommodation will find no shortage of hotels near the Stadio Olimpico.
If you are coming to watch your team play in the Stadio Olimpico, then it is likely that you will be arriving in Rome by plane. International flights land at either the Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport (Fiumicino) or the Rome Ciampino Airport. The former 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 Termini Station in the city centre. Two connections run every hour and the journey takes 30 minutes. Ciampino airport is 9.5 miles from the city centre. The airport has no rail connection but a number of bus services are on offer. Several companies run shuttle buses to 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 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.
Rome has an extensive transport system and getting around the city is relatively easy. How you travel to the stadium will depend on where your Stadio Olimpico hotel is located so it is advised to pick up a local transport guide on your arrival in the city. The Roma Termini railway station is Rome's main train station and main public transport hub so it is likely that your journey from city centre to the stadium will pass through here. One way to reach the stadium is to take the Metro Line A to the Ottaviano S. Pietro stop and then take the number 32 bus to Piazzale della Farnesina. The stadium is just a short walk away from here. An alternative route is to take bus number 910 from outside Roma Termini train station (from the opposite Piazza Dei Cinquecento) to Piazza Antonio Mancini and walk to the Stadio Olimpico over the Duca D'Aosta bridge.
