Venezia Matchday Guide: Football on Water at the Stadio Penzo

Intimacy, history and an unbeatable setting. The Penzo is tiny — barely 11,000 — with basic, largely uncovered metal stands hard against the pitch, and it looks nothing like the grand palaces Venice is famous for. That’s the charm: it’s raw, cosy and thoroughly authentic, a world away from a modern arena. The Curva Sud is the ultras’ end, a cascade of black, orange and green sound and colour, home to several fan groups. Battered by storms and haunted by the club’s financial dramas over the years, the Penzo has survived against the odds. Expect a warm, local, wonderfully idiosyncratic matchday in the most romantic location in world football.

This is the best part: there are no cars in Venice, so you reach the ground by water. Arrive on the mainland side at Piazzale Roma or Venezia Santa Lucia station, then take an ACTV vaporetto (water bus) — lines 1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 or 6 — to the Sant’Elena / Stadio Penzo stop, followed by a five-minute walk. It takes 15–30 minutes depending on the line. Our tip: take line 1 for the slower, spectacular route through the heart of Venice, under the Rialto and past San Marco. You can also walk from San Marco in around 25 minutes along the waterfront, past the Biennale gardens, or even arrive by private boat and dock at the little marinas nearby. Our getting around Venice guide has the vaporetto details.

The pre-match is pure Venice. Near the ground on Sant’Elena, Bar Al Parco by the vaporetto stop is perfect for a spritz — and here it’s often a Cynar spritz, the artichoke aperitivo that is the club’s sponsor and unofficial game drink. A little further, Via Garibaldi in the Castello district is lined with local bars like Bar Strani, Bar alle Colonette and El Refolo, ideal for a spritz and cicchetti (Venetian bar snacks) before kickoff. Skip the tourist traps around San Marco and drink where the locals do. Our Venice sports bars guide points you to the best spots near the ground.

Payment is card-friendly, and kiosks serve simple fare, a beer or a Cynar spritz. The Penzo’s appeal is its raw authenticity: stands right on top of the pitch, no barriers, the lagoon just beyond, and a dated, weathered character that oozes calcio history. The Curva Sud holds the ultras and the noise; away fans go in the Curva Nord. There isn’t a bad view in a ground this small. Soak it all in, because this is a piece of football history with a limited future — the club intends to move to a new, larger stadium on the mainland, so the Penzo’s days as a top-flight venue are numbered.

Tickets are sold through the official Venezia website and presale outlets around the province, with the box office open on matchday; presale prices are slightly cheaper than buying on the day. They run from around €10 for the Curva Sud up to about €30 for a central main-stand seat. The small capacity means popular games can sell out, so book ahead. As across Italy, tickets are nominative and photo ID matching the name is checked at the gate, so use official channels and bring matching identification. Our Venezia tickets guide walks through the official sale.

The vaporetto carries you back through the lagoon, and then Venice is yours — and few cities reward an evening more. Wander the Castello district, work through a bacaro crawl of spritz and cicchetti, or drift back through the canals toward San Marco and the Rialto. The Biennale gardens are right by the ground, and the whole incomparable city is on your doorstep. Football here is a magical bonus on a trip to one of the world’s most beautiful places. If you’re staying over, a base in Castello or near San Marco keeps you close to the water bus to Sant’Elena; our Venice hotels guide covers the options.

Take the vaporetto — there are no cars; the water bus to Sant’Elena is how you get there.

Ride line 1 for the views — the slow route runs through the heart of Venice, under the Rialto.

Drink a Cynar spritz — the artichoke aperitivo is the club’s own game-day drink.

Head for the Curva Sud — the ultras’ end is the colourful, noisy heart of the support.

Go soon — with a mainland move planned, the chance to see football at the Penzo is running out.

Make it a Venice trip — the city itself is reason enough to travel, football aside.

Facts verified July 2026. Venezia plan to leave the Penzo for a new mainland stadium (possibly around 2027), and capacities and ticketing can change between seasons — confirm the latest details on the official Venezia FC website before you travel.