Travel to Piedmont and you will need to pay close attention when typing Stadio Silvio Piola into your Google Maps. There are two grounds named after the calcio legend, with Pro Vercelli and Novara both playing at their own Stadio Silvio Piola. They are just 13 miles apart.
The one in Novara is relatively new by Italian standards and is also one of the largest in Italy’s lower tiers.
Here is everything you need to know.
What Makes It Special?
Its size. Opened in 1976, the Piola is one of the biggest in Serie C with a capacity of more than 17,000.
Built to replace the Stadio Enrico Patti, Novara’s home for 46 years, the Piola was, for three decades, simply known as Stadio Viale Kennedy after the street it is situated on.
In 1997, it was renamed after the great Italian striker, who won the 1938 World Cup and remains Serie A’s all-time record scorer. Piola is the only man to hold the title as record league scorer for two clubs, claiming 51 goals in 127 league matches for Pro Vercelli and then 86 in 185 for Novara, the team he joined in 1947 and where he retired seven years later.
How To Get There
The stadium is located just over a mile south-west of Novara’s old town and the 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.
The number 4 bus route connects the main station with the Piola, which is a two-minute walk from the stop.
Map
Neighbourhood Tips
Food and drink options are somewhat limited around the Piola. Piazzano, just across from the ground, is your best option for a pizza before or after the game, while Bar Novara just down the road is the typical football bar in Italy. Expect bottled beers, decent coffee and fans spilling out onto the pavement with drinks in hand.
The same can be said for Il Salottino, across the road from the Curva Sud. No frills, relatively cheap and packed with locals. If you fancy something more polished for a meal, try A Sicilia Na Ucca (Sicily in your mouth). It offers Sicilian specialities at a reasonable price, just a 10-minute walk from the ground.
Need To Know
The Novara ultras are housed in the Curva Nord of the Piola. If you’re heading over in winter, be aware that only the Tribuna Ovest is covered, so you will be exposed to the elements if you buy tickets for one of the other three stands.
Tickets
The ticket collection points are located by the main stand, the Tribuna Ovest and at the opposite end of the ground, the Tribuna Est.
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