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6 December 1959: History of Naples' San Paolo Stadium (today Maradona)
On 6 December 1959, the official opening of the San Paolo Stadium in Naples took place, where the blue-shirted side faced Juventus, coming away winners with a 2-1 scoreline. The building, designed by architect Carlo Cocchia, was built in the district of Fuorigrotta, which at that time was undergoing a period of intense urban development. Initially known as the "Stadio del Sole" (Stadium of the Sun), it later took the name San Paolo, in honour of the Apostle Paul, who, according to legend, was the first person to set foot in the area where the sports ground now stands.
It was built in the district of Fuorigrotta in 1959, inaugurated on 6 December of that year with a highly anticipated match between Napoli and Juventus, which ended with a 2-1 win for the home side. Because the old Stadio Partenopeo had been destroyed during the Second World War, the Naples team had been playing at the Arturo Collana Stadium in the Vomero district, but the venue was hard to reach and not large enough. So the City of Naples decided to build a new stadium in an area undergoing rapid growth, the Fuorigrotta district, designed by architect Carlo Cocchia. Cocchia is also known for designing other important buildings in the city of Naples, including Napoli Central Station, the Mostra d'Oltremare (Overseas Exhibition), the Rione La Loggetta and Rione Mazzini housing districts, and the New Polyclinic hospital.
Initially known as the "Stadio del Sole" (Stadium of the Sun), in 1963 the name was changed to "Stadio San Paolo" (San Paolo Stadium), in honour of Saint Paul of Tarsus, who, according to legend, came ashore in exactly the area of present-day Fuorigrotta after a shipwreck. The legendary stadium was home to Napoli for many seasons and hosted numerous sporting events, including several World Cup matches and, of course, the legendary games of Diego Armando Maradona.
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History and legends
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