Overlooking the Tiber, at the foot of the green Monte Mario pine forest, the capital's sports complex is a place to be discovered not only when major competitions are held there.
Designed in the 1920s by architect Enrico Del Debbio, it is an outstanding example of rationalist architecture in Rome. The complex contains numerous facilities dedicated to a variety of different sports, now managed by the CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) and home to sporting events of national and international importance. Among the main facilities are the Palazzo H, housing offices and representative spaces, the Stadio dei Marmi (Marble Stadium), surrounded by large statues representing the various sports, and the Casa della Scherma (Fencing Academy), an avant-garde design by Luigi Moretti, which can be visited with special openings. Also in the complex is the Olympic Stadium, rebuilt in its present form for the 1960 Rome Olympics with a capacity of about 70,000 spectators, and where not only football competitions but also big-star concerts are held. On the opposite bank of the river is the Teatro Olimpico, one of Rome's historic theatres which, season after season, offers a rich calendar of events and shows for all tastes.
