

Football city Genoa may call itself with all rights the cradle of Italian football. It is here that in 1893, the original British football spread over Italy. The love for the calcio has settled deeply in the harbour city.
Stadio Luigi Ferraris

Just like San Siro, the Luigi Ferraris in Genoa is such a characteristic Italian stadium which you recognize immediately by its original architecture, with its trademark corners and the typical roof. The camel-coloured facade is also very remarkable. From the hills around Genoa, you have an amazing view of the stadium. It's also home to two clubs: Genoa CFC and Sampdoria, classic rivals in a real football city.
The current stadium is quite new, for the 1990 World Cup it had been demolished and built up again completely. This semi-modern architecture makes Luigi Ferraris not less atmospheric, on the contrary: The acoustic is outstanding. The atmosphere is especially wonderful at the famous 'Derby della Lanterna' between rivals Genoa and Sampdoria.
Best football museum in Italy
Genoa CFC has probably the most beautiful club museum in Italy, located in a beautiful place: The museum 'Fondazione Genoa 1893' on the Via al Porto Antico, in the middle of the historic harbour of the city. In a beautiful building from the 16th century, you'll find old shirts and souvenirs from the oldest club in Italy, displayed in beautiful vitrines. The museum is multimedia, with beautiful videos about the origins of the club and Italian football in general. A real recommendation, because the museum also has a lovely club store.
‘La maglia più bella del mondo’

There is no arguing about taste, and the shirt of Genoa CFC is wonderful too, but the jersey of Sampdoria has been named 'La maglia più bella del mondo': The most beautiful shirt in the world. The blue with the red-black-white banners is unique, classy and recognizable. Both at the stadium and in the city centre of Genoa you'll find club stores of Sampdoria with beautiful stuff, among which also the great retro line of COPA Football. The store 'Sampdoria Point' on the Via Cesarea is the best one in town. The unique combination of colours is seen in the stands of the Luigi Ferraris too when Sampdoria plays a home game.
Football with a view
Playing football yourself? You've come to the right place then. On the Via dell'Acciaio is a great football pitch 'at height'. The artificial pitch has an extraordinary view of the city. Right next to the sea, you'll find the pitch of USD Polis Genova 1993. It is used by football academies, but you can rent it yourself too. You can hear the Ligurian Sea while you're playing.
Sports center ‘Gloriano Mugnaini’
The training ground of Sampdoria is also beautifully located, in the green coastal area east of Genoa, with the sea on the horizon. The 'Gloriano Mugnaini' complex is often open for fans and if not you can always see it from the nearby hills.
Tickets for the Derby della Lanterna
The Derby della Lanterna is one of the most underrated and intense derbies in Italian football. A true recommendation and tickets are quite easy to get. Luigi Ferrraris is on derby days mostly sold out, but not completely. Keep an eye on the 'home playing team' a couple of weeks before the presale starts. Regular home matches of Sampdoria and Genoa are easy to visit anyway.
How to get there?
Take at motorway A12 exit Genova Est and follow the road until Stadio Luigi Ferraris appears on the signs. After a few hundred meters the terracotta-coloured stadium can be seen on your left hand.
Train and metro station Genova Brignole is a 10-minute walk from the stadium. From the front side of the stadium several buses go to the stadium as well.
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