Virtus Entella Stadium Guide: Stadio Enrico Sannazzari

One of the smallest stadiums across the upper echelons of Italian football, Virtus Entella’s Stadio Enrico Sannazzari is somewhat of rarity in calcio’s colourful landscape as it is named after the club’s founder, at least according to one version of events.

One of the thousands of Ligurians who emigrated to South America, Sannazzari was part of a group of businessmen who set up Entella in 1914 when he returned to Italy, and chose the colours as a tribute to Argentina’s national team.

That version is contested by Chiavari’s city council, which contends there are no records of Sannazzari ever visiting South America prior to founding Entella and that the colours were adopted as a result of the bond Chiavari had developed with the continent following a wave of Italian migration.

Nestled in a residential area in Chiavari, a compact city of just over 30,000 inhabitants on the Ligurian Sea, the Stadio Sannazzari held as many as 10,000 spectators in the 1950s, but capacity had fallen to just over 1300 by 2008. The ground has been renovated and expanded since their return to the second tier, but the Sannazzari remains small even by Serie B standards.

And while Entella are something of an afterthought when it comes to Ligurian football, they make for a great double-header if you’re travelling to catch a Genoa or Sampdoria game at Marassi. Here is all you need to know about the Sannazzari.

What Makes It Special

Its size. With a capacity of just over 5,000, the Sannazzari is one of the most compact stadiums across the top two tiers of Italian football, but don’t mistake its homely feel for a placid environment.

The Gradinata Sud make its presence felt on matchday and is quite the picture when all decked in light blue and white.

How To Get There

The stadium is approximately a 15-minute walk from Chiavari’s old town and a 20-minute walk from the train station, which is also connected to the ground by bus routes 712, 713 and 715. Get off at Via Piacenza and make the short walk to the ground.

Map

Neighbourhood Tips

Entella fans gather to drink at Bar Entella. About 100m from the stadium gates, this is the ideal spot to grab a last-minute pint before kick-off or a sandwich as you watch the crowd filter through the turnstiles.

Just up the road on Corso Lavagna Arte Pizza is also a good option. Don’t expect a fancy atmosphere, but this bar is perfect for a slice of pizza and a beer before the game.

Slightly further away, but still only a 10-minute walk from the stadium, you will stumble across fans at On Tap on Via Entella.

Need To Know

The stadium, which mistakenly is called the Stadio Aldo Gastaldi owing to the street in which it is located, is also known as the Stadio Comunale and it briefly housed British troops during the Allied Forces campaign to liberate Italy during World War II.

Tickets

The ticket collection points are located behind the main stand. Our guide to buying tickets has all the information.