Foro Italico

This article is about the sports complex in Rome. For the city square in Palermo, see Foro Italico (Palermo).
The Stadio dei Marmi surrounded by statues representing athletes

Foro Italico, formerly Foro Mussolini, is a sports complex in Rome, Italy. It was built between 1928 and 1938 as the Foro Mussolini (literally Mussolini's Forum) under the design of Enrico Del Debbio and, later, Luigi Moretti. Inspired by the Roman forums of the imperial age, its design is lauded as a preeminent example of Italian Fascist architecture instituted by Mussolini. The purpose of the prestigious project was to get the Olympic Games of 1944 to be organised by fascist Italy and held in Rome.

Description

It is home to numerous sports venues, such as the largest sports facility in Rome, the Stadio Olimpico, the ornate Stadio dei Marmi and the adjoining building which is the seat of the Italian National Olympic Committee (originally built for the purposes of the Fascist Male Academy of Physical Education). Foro Italico also comprises an aquatics center built for the 1960 summer Olympics, the Stadio del Nuoto ("Swimming Stadium") and a tennis center.

The tennis center is an extensive area with a total of eleven clay surface tennis courts, eight of which are used for tournaments and the rest for training purposes. There are currently three show or stadium courts: the main one formerly had a capacity of 8,000 spectators; however, a new center court, the Campo Centrale, which can seat up to 10,400 spectators, was constructed for the 2010 tournament.[1] The other show courts are the Supertennis Arena and Stadio Pietrangeli (formerly Pallacorda, 3,500 seats[2]).

Foro Italico has hosted important events, most notably the 1960 Summer Olympics. The tennis center annually hosts the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and WTA Premier event. Other live events like music concerts are also held at the various venues in the complex.

Coordinates: 41°55′51″N 12°27′24″E / 41.930705°N 12.456692°E / 41.930705; 12.456692

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2010/04/17/Rome-Tuesday-Centre-Court-Opening.aspx
  2. ↑ "Prevendita". Internazionalibnlditalia.com. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
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