The Five Biggest Cities and Five Smallest Towns in Serie C This Season

With 60 teams spread out across three different groups, from the Alps to Sicily and from the Adriatic Sea to the Tyrrhenian Sea, Serie C encompasses 19 of Italy’s 20 regions.

From former Serie A clubs fallen on hard times to clubs making their professional debut, the division is a football smorgasbord. Its variety is mirrored by the geographical differences between each region and, specifically, between some of the cities represented in Serie C, which include one of Italy’s biggest metropolis alongside small villages in Tuscany and Abruzzo.

Here, Destination Calcio takes a look at the five biggest cities and five smallest towns represented in the Italian third division this season.

The largest

Milan

Italy’s second-biggest city is also the biggest in Serie C, courtesy of AC Milan’s Next Gen team and Alcione Milano.

While the Rossoneri’s Under-23 team have bizarrely been added to Group B along with teams from central Italy, Alcione are in Group A along with their northern neighbours for their professional debut. 

Based in Sesto San Giovanni, approximately six miles from Milan, Alcione won promotion to Serie C after winning their Serie D group last season, just two years after being promoted to the division for the first time.

Turin

Like its northern counterpart, Turin makes the list by virtue of being represented by Juventus Next Gen team.

If the AC Milan Under-23’s inclusion in the Group B raised doubts from a geographical standpoint, Serie C’s decision to drop Juventus’ Under-23 team into the Group C is nothing short of absurd.

If nothing else, it gives the Bianconeri the chance to be the first team in the division to be able to claim they have competed in all three groups.

Catania 

With a population just north of 310,000 inhabitants, Catania is the third-biggest city represented in Serie C this season. Italian football’s third-tier is arguably too small a stage for a city that welcomed Serie A between 1960 and 1966 and again between 2006 and 2014.

But after going bankrupt two years ago and being rescued by the Australian duo of Ross Pelligra and former Serie A star Vincenzo Grella – Catania’s president and vice-president respectively returning to Serie C this season represents a major milestone for The Elephants and hopefully a stepping stone onto bigger things.

So far, the season has got off to a promising start with Catania third in Group C with seven points after three matches.

Verona

With Hellas in Serie A and Chievo fallen on hard times in Serie D, Virtus are Verona’s sole representatives in Serie C.

The Rossoblu have spent the last seven seasons in the division and qualified for the promotion play-offs as recently as 2023, reaching the national phase where they lost 5-3 to Pescara on aggregate in the first round.

With four points after three matches, Virtus have work to do to reach the play-offs again this term.

Messina

Slightly smaller than its neighbour Catania, with a population just north of 235,000, Messina is the fifth-biggest city represented in Serie C this season.

And like their fellow Sicilians, Messina are still in the rebuilding phase after a turbulent decade that involved bankruptcy and relegation to Serie D.

A mainstay of Serie A between 2004 and 2007, the Giallorossi have spent the last four seasons in Serie C but have never finished higher than 14th. 

The smallest

Pineto

With a population of approximately 15,000, the Abruzzo seaside resort is the fifth smallest town to have a team in Serie C this term.

The Biancazzurri made their professional debut last season after winning promotion from Serie D and secured their Serie C status after finishing 14th in Group B.

Pineto have made a strong start to the season and are still unbeaten after three games, with one win and two draws to their name.

Caldiero Terme

Up until two years ago, Caldiero Terme was a town with a population of 8,000 and a team plying its trade in Promozione, the sixth tier of the Italian football pyramid.

But after back-to-back promotions, the town – which is approximately 10 miles east of Verona – now boasts a Serie C representative. 

And the Thermals have made an impressive start to their life in professional football, winning two of their first three league games of the season and are currently fourth in Group A.

Caldiero beat Albinoleffe at home in their Serie C debut and last weekend won away against Triestina, pulling off a textbook David vs Goliath upset.

Picerno

The third-smallest town in Serie C this season with a population just under 6,000, Picerno is Basilicata’s sole representative in the division.

And the Rossoblu have become a mainstay in Group C after returning to Serie C three years ago following a one-season hiatus in non-professional football.

Following a 10th place finish in 2022, Picerno have finished sixth in the last two seasons, securing consecutive play-offs appearances. 

They’re aiming to go one better this term and are currently top of the table with seven points after three games, courtesy of wins against Avellino and Trapani.

Renate

Located approximately 25 miles north of Milan, a population just under 4,000 makes Renate the second-smallest town to have a team in Serie C this season.

The Nerazzurri have to play their home games 11 miles in Meda as their stadium is too small for Serie C requirements, but that hasn’t stopped them from cementing their place in the division.

First promoted to what was then known as Lega Pro in 2009, Renate gained promotion to the Lega Pro first division in 2013 and have remained in Serie C since the division was rebranded the following year, when its two-tier structure was scrapped.

Pianese

Serie C’s newcomers also have the honour of representing the smallest town in the division, as the Tuscan town of Piancastagnaio, approximately 50 miles south of Siena, accounts for just over 3,800 souls.

Up until this season, Pianese’s only claim to fame was to be the first professional football club to report a case of Covid-19, when King Udoh – who has since joined Trapani – tested positive in February 2020.

A mainstay of Serie D, the Bianconeri first attained professional status in 2019, but their sojourn in Serie C lasted just one season as they made a swift return to the fourth tier of Italian football.

Their first season back among the pros has started solidly enough, with the Tuscans currently 10th in Group B with four points in three games.

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