Novara: Stadio Silvio Piola

Opened in 1976, Novara’s Silvio Piola stadium is one of the biggest in Serie C with a stated capacity of over 17,000 when health and safety regulations are met.

Built in 1971 to replace the Stadio Enrico Patti, Novara’s home for 46 years, the Silvio Piola was simply known as Stadio Viale Kennedy after the streets it is situated on for three decades.

In 1997, it was renamed after the great Italian striker who set several records. Piola, who won the 1938 World Cup and scored twice in the Final, is still regarded as one of the best Azzurri players ever with 30 international goals in only 34 appearances.

In total, Piola played 566 top-flight games, putting him fourth on the all-time list for Serie A appearances and is the only player to top-score for three different clubs (Novara, Lazio, Pro Vercelli), with 86 of those strikes for Novara between 1947 and 1954.

Novara’s ground shares the name with Vercelli’s stadium, just 15 miles away, which is also dedicated to the world champion who began his career with Pro Vercelli. One of the few grounds in Italy to be fitted with artificial pitch, the Stadio Silvio Piola turf was named the best in Serie C in 2024.

Destination Calcio travelled to Novara for L’Operazione Nostalgia to witness some of Serie A’s greats coming out of retirement to give the fans what they want. A crowd of 12,000 packed into the Piola to pay tribute to Roberto Baggio, who appeared for the first time in public since his home invasion.

The L’Operazione Match (Serie A Legends) match featured two magnificent lineups.

Team One: Dida, Panucci, Zaccardo, Legrottaglie, Antonini, Giunti, Tommasi, Fuser, Amoruso, Shevchenko, Di Natale.

Team Two: Frey, Ze Maria, Apolloni, Aldair, Annoni, Volpi, Karagounis, Javier Zanetti, Denis, Pellissier, Milito.

Stadio Silvio Piola factfile

• Capacity: 17,875
• Club: Novara
• Opened: 1976
• Address: Viale Kennedy 8, 28100 Novara

How to get to the Stadio Silvio Piola

The stadium is located approximately 3 km south-west of Novara’s old town and the town’s main train station.

Novara is well connected to Turin and Milan by train, with the average journey taking around 75 minutes from the former and 40 minutes from the latter. 

From Novara’s main train station

• 4 bus from Novara FS Garibaldi stop towards Via Ancona  – 12 stops to Silvio Piola stop, followed by a two-minute walk.
• 11 bus from Novara FS Garibaldi stop towards Vercelli FS – Roma  – Three stops to Cavalcavia San Martino stop, followed by a 25-minute walk.

How to buy public transport tickets

Tickets are available at the SUN ticket office at 23 Corso Garibaldi Cavour, as well as at newsagents and tobacconists. There are also automatic ticket machines located inside the main train station. 

Tickets are also available via the SUN iTicket and SUN Novara apps, which are available on Apple Store and Android.

A single ticket valid for 75 minutes costs €1.50, 

How to drive to the Stadio Silvio Piola

The stadium is a 10-minute cab ride from Novara’s main train station and a 10-minute ride from Piazza della Repubblica in Novara’s old town. 

How to buy Novara tickets

Match tickets can be purchased online on Novara’s website, at TicketOne.it or at TicketOne sale points and on the gate at the Stadio Piola.

Destinaton Calcio attended the Raduno Serie A Legends match at the Stadio Silvio Piola in 2024. You can watch the feature podcast on DC TV.