In the dirty, lively and overwhelming Naples is the love for 'calcio' never far away. In the South-Italian city, you'll find references to Diego Maradona everywhere. That alone, makes Napoli worth a visit.
The old stadium San Paolo was rapidly renamed after Napoli's most famous player ever died in 2020. But more about Maradona later. The stadium itself doesn't look spectacular, comparable to the Stadio Olimpico: Oval and gigantic. However, the atmosphere is wonderful. The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona has been renovated over the last couple of years, and the running tracks have made way for new stands closer to the pitch. The new seats are in the club colours, which gives the stadium for Italian standards a quite fresh look.
Tip: The stadium lies pretty far from the city centre of Naples, so take the metro to station Mostra. There you'll find a lot of murals of Maradona, and even better: The station has been named after Maradona now as well.
Everyone has seen the images: Diego Maradona was remembered after his death at the square on the Via Emanuele de Deo, in the heart of the Spanish quarter of Naples. You'll find Maradona everywhere in the form of murals: You can even take a special Maradona-tour through the area. Buy a ticket at Bostik Bodega, right on the square.
Do you know the beautiful images of Diego Maradona on a muddy training pitch? Or the classical picture of Diego and his daughter? It was all captured at the Campo Sportivo Paradiso in the Soccavo area, in the west of Naples. It's not in use anymore but it still exists. After Maradona's death in 2020, the famous picture with his daughter was painted on the walls of 'Paradiso'. The complex has been turned into a ruin and the pitch is overgrown, but it's still a wonderful place to visit. A must-see.
It's almost become a cliché, but still worth your time: Bar Nilo, a small coffee bar on the Spaccanapoli. Here you can find the famous altar dedicated to Maradona, with even a real hair strand of the Argentine. Inside, there are a load of Napoli souvenirs, but the espresso is good as well.
Not to be confused by the training ground with the same name: Hotel Paradiso is in the area of Posillipo, close to the former home of Maradona (at the Via Scipione Capece). Hotel Paradiso was a hot spot in Maradona's era in Naples. A sort of informal headquarter of Maradona and his clan and agent Guillermo Coppola. Many parties were celebrated here (and many lines were sniffed as well). Maradona found his privacy here when he didn't have it at home: Coppola used to book a whole floor for Diego, his friends and girlfriends.
It's almost never a problem to get a ticket for Napoli. You can order them on the official website of the club. On the website, you'll also find a long list with 'real' stores who sell tickets as well. The stadium is rarely sold out anymore, but bear in mind that you must take your passport with you. It is mandatory to visit any match in Italy.
Stadio Diego Armando Maradona is a little bit further from the city centre, like most Italian stadiums. The metro station Mostra (mentioned before) is nearby. The alternative is an old-school Neapolitan taxi. Fasten your seatbels, because almost nowhere in Europe is the traffic as chaotic as in Napoli. Also bear in mind to take cash with you, you can't pay by card in most taxis.
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