Football museum of Coverciano: where the history of the Azzurri Jersey is preserved

Are you an Italian football fan nostalgic for the great triumphs of the National Team? Then we have the perfect place for you: the Football Museum of Coverciano, the official museum of the Italian National Team.

A magical place that captures the passion of the fans and retraces the most thrilling chapters of the Azzurri jersey’s history. The Museum tells the story of the Italian National Team from its first match in 1910 to the present day, passing through the Euro 2021 victory and the recent success of the Under-17 team.

Inaugurated on May 22, 2000, the Museum was born from an idea by Fino Fini, who, during preparations for the 1990 World Cup, proposed creating a space dedicated to the memory of Italian football. Let’s step into the heart of Italy’s footballing history.

The Rooms of the Football Museum of Coverciano

The visit begins with a piece of history: the pennant from the 1922 Italy-Austria match, a friendly played in Milan that ended 3-3, attended by a record crowd of 20,000 spectators.

Continuing through the first room, visitors encounter the black jerseys of the Fascist era. Officially justified as a way to distinguish Italy from its opponents in home matches, this color choice actually marked a political break with the Azzurri tradition. The shirts bore the Savoy coat of arms topped by a crown and the fascio littorio, symbols of the regime’s ideological influence. In those years, even the jersey became a political manifesto.

It was in this context that Silvio Piola made his debut for the National Team in Vienna. After scoring two decisive goals, he asked coach Vittorio Pozzo to keep the match jersey. Once home, his mother carefully embroidered the inscription:

“Piola ha segnato entrambi i goal nella prima partita di Piola in Nazionale.”

This unique relic is valuable not only for its sporting significance but also for the use of the archaic verb form “à” (with an accent), then still common in Italian.

In 1939, during the Finland-Italy friendly, the National Team returned to wearing the traditional blue jersey, now numbered for the first time. Once again, Piola was the star, scoring a hat-trick with the number 9 jersey, today on display in the Museum. That match also marked the final appearance of Giuseppe Meazza in the Azzurri shirt.

The exhibition continues with the tragic memory of the Superga disaster in 1949, which claimed the lives of the Grande Torino, the team that had formed the core of the National Squad. Pozzo himself had the painful duty of identifying the bodies. Among the remains was the brooch of Romeo Menti, now kept in Coverciano.

For an entire year, Italy played with black armbands in mourning — the symbol became part of the official kit.

The Museum also preserves the number 5 jersey of Carlo Parola and his socks worn in Austria-Italy (1-0) on April 2, 1950, part of the International Cup (1948-1953).

The Evolution of the Azzurri Jersey and Its Legendary Relics

The Museum offers a fascinating look at the evolution of fabrics and colors of the Italian jersey — from light sky blue to deep navy, passing through creamy white — reflecting decades of technological innovation, from heavy wool to modern, water-repellent materials.

Visitors can admire iconic jerseys, such as those of Gianni Rivera and Francesco Morini (1973), Luciano Re Cecconi (1974 World Cup), and those of Gaetano Scirea, Alessandro Altobelli, Giancarlo Antognoni, and Carlo Ancelotti. The Museum also keeps Antognoni’s original boots, symbols of the evolution of football footwear, and coach Enzo Bearzot’s uniform from the same era.

Among the 1990 World Cup memorabilia are the mascot “Ciao” and Fernando De Napoli’s full kit.

Another surprise is the Diego Armando Maradona jersey, worn during the 1982 World Cup.

Unforgettable items also include Alessandro Costacurta’s 1994 shirt, Francesco Totti’s centenary jersey for the FIGC (1998), and Roberto Baggio’s jersey from his final match for Italy in 2004.

The Triumph of 2006

Who could forget the 2006 World Cup? The Museum still breathes the emotion of that Berlin night. Among the exhibits are Gianluigi Buffon’s gloves, Fabio Grosso’s kit, and Fabio Cannavaro’s captain’s outfit.

A charming anecdote surrounds Cannavaro’s shirt: before leaving for Germany, he jokingly promised the Museum director he would donate his uniform if Italy won the Cup. What seemed like a dream turned into reality. Nearby are also coach Marcello Lippi’s polo shirt and Buffon’s jersey, preserved side by side.

The Trophy Room

Perhaps the most emotional space is the Trophy Room, where the major titles of the National Team are displayed. Starting from the 1934 World Cup, accompanied by a personal trophy commissioned by Mussolini and sculpted by Giuseppe Graziosi, visitors can admire the 1938 Cup, the 1930 International Cup, and the famous coin from Italy-USSR (1968) that decided the final later won in Rome.

Also present are the 1982 and 2006 World Cups, lifted by Cannavaro, and the Euro 2021 trophy, won at Wembley against England.

Recent tributes include the ball dedicated to Paolo Rossi, printed with his face, and trophies from the Under-21 and Under-17 national teams, the latter victorious at Euro 2024.

The collection also includes memorabilia from the Futsal, Beach Soccer, and eEuro 2020 national teams.

An Immersive Finale

The tour ends in a modern multimedia room, where visitors can relive the Azzurri’s emotions through videos, images, and interactive installations. In the final section, guests can take a souvenir photo, taking home a piece of Italy’s football heritage.

Visitor Information

Opening hours: daily, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Address: Piazza Fino Fini 1, Florence

Phone: +39 055 600526

Email: [email protected]

Tickets:

• Full: €9.00
• Reduced: €5.00 (children 6–14 yrs, groups ≥ 20)
• Free: ages 0–5
• Guided tour: €10.00 per person (min 20 people, booking required)
• Guided tour + Technical Center: €20.00 per person

Included: downloadable audio guide app; sensory app “Museo del Calcio Open” available for visually and hearing-impaired visitors.

The Museum also hosts the official FIGC Shop, featuring Adidas match and training gear worn by the Azzurri and Azzurre, and participates in the Firenze Card network.

Follow the official X, Facebook, and Instagram channels of the Football Museum of Coverciano.

Photo credits: FIGC official website – Museo del Calcio di Coverciano