Diego Armando Maradona Stadium tops FAI Spring Days 2026 with 10,100

Diego Armando Maradona Stadium leads visitor rankings at FAI Spring Days 2026

At the 2026 FAI Spring Days the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples emerged as Italy's most visited cultural site: more than 10,100 people took part in guided visits over a 48-hour period, outperforming long-standing institutional locations such as the Supreme Court and the Palazzo della Cancelleria in Rome.

Why the stadium drew so many visitors

The figure goes beyond mere attendance: it underlines the stadium's symbolic and collective importance. The FAI itinerary allowed visitors to walk along the pitch edge, enter the locker rooms and the press area, creating an emotionally powerful monument visit. The opening of a large mural by Jorit, unveiled days earlier in tribute to Napoli's centenary, added further appeal.

FAI 2026 highlights and rankings

The national ranking for the March 21–22 openings places the Neapolitan stadium at the top, followed by leading Roman palaces. Key numbers from the edition demonstrate the event's scale:

• 10,100 visitors at the Maradona Stadium in 48 hours;
• More than 540,000 participants across 400 cities;
• 780 open sites, 7,500 volunteers and 17,000 "Apprentice Cicerones" trained to guide visits.

A secular monument: history and evolution

Designed in the 1950s and inaugurated in 1959 as the "Stadio del Sole", the venue has undergone several changes and names. Long known as "San Paolo", it became a city symbol with Diego Armando Maradona's arrival, which transformed the stadium into a place of popular reverence. Following Maradona's death, the municipal decision to rename the stadium reinforced its identity as a cultural landmark.

What visitors can expect

The FAI route highlighted the stadium's monumental qualities through several stops:

• Entry via Gate 20 of the Distinti and viewing of the Jorit mural on Curve A;
• Walks along the pitch edge and direct contact with the playing surface;
• Access to the press room and visitor locker rooms to explore the operational heart of the stadium.

Practical information

The Maradona Stadium is typically accessible to the public during organized initiatives such as FAI days. Visitors should check the FAI calendar and official municipal or club channels for announcements on special openings, booking procedures and guided tours.