Stadio Giovanni Zini

The Stadio Giovanni Zini is the home of US Cremonese and one of Italy's oldest football grounds — opened in 1919, the same year as the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa. Located in the Cremona suburbs about 2.5 km north-east of the medieval centre, the stadium holds 16,003 and was modernised across 2017-2019 with all-seater conversion and further pre-2022/23-season upgrades to meet Serie A standards. The ground is named after Giovanni Zini, a Cremonese goalkeeper who played for U.S. Cremonese and died in action during World War I — one of several Italian stadiums named after early 20th-century footballer-soldiers.

Cremona itself is one of Italy's most under-explored heritage cities — famous as the world capital of violin making, the home town of Stradivari and Amati (the great 17th-century luthiers), and a culinary centre for mostarda and torrone. US Cremonese have spent most of their century-plus history in Serie B and Serie C with brief Serie A appearances in the late 1980s and early 1990s under coach Gigi Simoni. The current Serie A run (since promotion at the end of 2024/25) is the club's first top-flight return in years. The Zini's matchday combines small-club football intensity with one of northern Italy's most rewarding cultural destinations — a violin museum, medieval squares, the Torrazzo (Italy's tallest medieval bell tower), and Cremonese cuisine all within walking distance of the stadium.

The Stadio Giovanni Zini opened in 1919 as one of the earliest purpose-built football grounds in Italy. The stadium honours Giovanni Zini (1894-1915), a Cremonese goalkeeper who played for U.S. Cremonese before being called up to military service and dying at the front during World War I. His name has been associated with the ground since opening — making the Zini one of several Italian stadiums named after early 20th-century footballer-soldiers (similar to Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa, named after another WWI casualty).

The Long Cremonese Lower-Division Era

US Cremonese have spent most of their century-plus history in Serie B and Serie C, with brief Serie A appearances. The Zini through most of the 20th century was a small lower-division ground, modestly developed.

The Gigi Simoni Era (Late 1980s - Early 1990s)

Under coach Gigi Simoni, US Cremonese achieved their most famous Serie A campaigns. The 1988-89 promotion brought Cremonese into top-flight Italian football for the first time, and the club had two further Serie A campaigns (1993-94 and 1995-96) before another lower-division descent. Simoni later took Inter to the 1998 UEFA Cup. The Zini's atmosphere in those Cremonese Serie A years remains a romantic provincial-football memory.

The 2017-2019 Renovation

Ahead of Cremonese's eventual return to Serie A, the Zini underwent significant renovations from 2017 to 2019 — the standing terraces were converted to all-seater stands, modern hospitality areas were added, and the playing surface was upgraded. Further pre-2022/23-season modifications expanded the modernisation to meet Serie A and UEFA standards.

Cremonese's Modern Serie A Returns

Cremonese were promoted to Serie A for 2022/23 after a long absence — their first top-flight appearance since the mid-1990s — but were relegated at the end of that season. Promotion again at the end of 2024/25 returned the club to Serie A for 2025/26. The Zini's matchday is back in the Serie A spotlight after another long wait.

The 2015 Rugby World Cup Under 20 Final

The Zini hosted the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship final between New Zealand and England (won by New Zealand), one of the rare non-football events at the ground. The match was part of Cremona's broader hosting of the rugby tournament that summer.

How to Get US Cremonese Tickets

There are three main ways to attend a match at the Zini:

1. Official Club Tickets (Best Value)

Buy directly from uscremonese.it — general sale typically opens 2-3 weeks before kickoff. Prices range from €20 (Curva upper) to €120+ (Tribuna Centrale premium). Italian rules require nominative tickets with a matching photo ID.

⚠️ Important: Visits from Juventus, Inter, Milan, Napoli and Roma sell out before general sale, especially given the small 16,003 capacity.

2. Official Hospitality (Guaranteed Access)

US Cremonese hospitality at the Zini:

• Tribuna VIP — central premium with pre/post-match Cremonese dining, from €150
• Premium Centrale — central with hospitality lounge access, from €200

Book via the Cremonese hospitality desk through the official portal.

3. Third-Party Platforms (Sold-Out Matches)

For sold-out fixtures:

• LiveFootballTickets — Serie A specialists, from €55
• SeatPick — comparison platform

⚠️ Note: Italian nominative-ticket rules mean some resale tickets cannot be legally transferred. Verify the seller can re-issue in your name.

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Stadio Zini Tour

US Cremonese offers occasional stadium tours focused on the Gigi Simoni Serie A era and the heritage of Giovanni Zini.

What You'll See

• Giovanni Zini memorial — the early Cremonese goalkeeper who died in WWI and gave the stadium its name
• Gigi Simoni era exhibits — Cremonese's late-1980s/early-1990s Serie A campaigns
• 2017-2019 renovation — architectural exhibits on the modernisation
• Home dressing room and tunnel
• Pitch-side and dugout access
• 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Final memorabilia

Practical Details

• Duration: Approximately 60 minutes
• Schedule: Limited; typically Saturdays
• Price: Adults around €10-15
• Languages: Italian, English

Booking

• GetYourGuide
• Viator
• Direct: uscremonese.it

Pro tip: Cremona's Museo del Violino is one of Italy's most distinctive small-museum experiences — Stradivari and Amati instruments are played daily by professional violinists in the museum's intimate audition room. Combine with the stadium tour for a uniquely Cremonese day.

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Quick Tips

• Bring photo ID: Tickets are nominative
• Violin capital: Cremona is the world capital of violin making — the Museo del Violino is essential
• Cremonese cuisine: Mostarda, torrone and marubini are the local specialities
• Combine with Milan or Parma: Cremona is 1 hour from Milan and 45 minutes from Parma — easy multi-stadium tours

Best Seats at Stadio Zini

The ground is a single-tier-plus-mezzanine bowl with the Curva Sud at one end (home of the Cremonese ultras), the Curva Nord opposite, the Tribuna along one long side and the Distinti opposite.

Curva Sud (South End)

Historic home of the Cremonese ultras. Compact, vertical, behind the goal. Prices typically €20-40 for Serie A. Atmosphere is excellent for the small size — Cremonese's tifoseria has been through long lower-division periods and the Serie A return is celebrated intensely.

Curva Nord (North End)

The opposite curve, traditionally allocated to away teams and additional Cremonese supporters. Prices €20-35.

Tribuna (Long Side, West)

The Tribuna runs along the west long side with the dressing room tunnel below. Includes Tribuna Centrale (premium central). Pricing €55-100 (Lower Tier central), €40-75 (Upper Tier), with central sections most expensive.

Distinti (Long Side, East)

The Distinti is the opposite long side. Pricing €40-75.

Premium & Hospitality

US Cremonese offers hospitality in the Tribuna VIP. Packages start around €150 and exceed €350 for visits from Inter, Milan, Juventus and Napoli. Book via the club hospitality desk.

Accessibility

Wheelchair-accessible seating with companion seats following the 2017-2019 renovation.

Pro Tips

• Best atmosphere: Curva Sud lower
• Best balance: Tribuna Centrale central, Lower Tier
• Best photographs: Distinti upper looking back across the pitch
• Away fans: Curva Nord upper
• Big matches: With 16,003 capacity, visits from Inter, Milan, Juventus or Napoli sell out fast
• Combine with Cremona: Violin museum, Torrazzo, medieval centre — all within walking distance

A matchday at the Zini is one of Italian football's most underrated cultural experiences — small-club football in the world capital of violin making, with the medieval Torrazzo bell tower visible from the upper stands and Lombardy's flat farmland stretching to the horizon beyond.

What to Bring

Standard Italian league security. Bags larger than A4 (21cm × 30cm) are not permitted; small handbags and rucksacks are subject to search. Prohibited items include large backpacks, umbrellas with rigid handles, professional cameras with detachable lenses, selfie sticks, flares, glass and outside food/drink. Italian regulations require nominative tickets matched to a photo ID. Arrive 45-60 minutes before kickoff.

Pre-Match (2-3 hours before)

Cremona's compact medieval centre is a 30-minute walk from the stadium. Bars and trattorias around Piazza del Comune (with its famous Torrazzo bell tower), Via Cavour and Corso Garibaldi fill with grigiorossi-clad supporters (Cremonese's grey-red colours). Try Hosteria 700 for traditional Lombard cuisine including marubini in brodo (Cremonese stuffed pasta) and bollito misto con mostarda di Cremona (mixed boiled meats with the city's famous spiced fruit condiment), or Caffè Bar Centrale for matchday aperitivo. The Cremonese mostarda is unique to the city — fruit preserved in mustard syrup, used as a condiment with meats. The Torrone di Cremona (the local nougat) is the sweet. Many fans take a bus or walk down via Viale Trento e Trieste.

Inside the Stadium

Gates open roughly 90 minutes before kickoff. Pre-match anthems include 'Forza Cremonese', 'Grigiorossi' (Cremonese's grey-red colours) and the iconic 'Inno della Cremonese'. The Curva Sud leads relentless singing — Cremonese's tifoseria is small but devoted, with deep roots in the Lombard provincial city.

Food & Drink

Concession kiosks sell Cremonese matchday fare — panini con cotechino (the local pork sausage) with mostarda, marubini in winter, torrone for dessert, plus Birra Moretti and Birra Lariano. Prices reasonable (around €5-7). Hospitality areas offer Cremonese tasting menus.

After the Match

Post-match crowds funnel toward central Cremona via Viale Trento e Trieste. The medieval centro storico stays animated until late — Piazza del Comune is the post-match hub, with the Torrazzo illuminated at night. Hosteria 700 and the Locanda della Buona Vita are excellent for traditional Cremonese late dining.

International Visitor Tips: Italian rules require nominative tickets matched to a photo ID. Combine the matchday with the Museo del Violino (the violin museum, with Stradivari and Amati instruments on display), the Torrazzo (Italy's tallest medieval bell tower at 112 metres — climbable for panoramic Lombardy views), the Cattedrale di Cremona, and Cremonese cuisine. Cremona pairs naturally with Milan (1 hour by train), Parma (45 minutes by train) — making Tier 3 Tardini within easy day-trip range — and Bologna (1.5 hours).

Where to Stay for Stadio Zini

Near the Stadium / Cremona Centro Storico (Recommended)

Search hotels in central Cremona

For most visitors, central Cremona around Piazza del Comune (with the Torrazzo and Duomo) or Via Cavour is the natural base — walking distance to the stadium (30 minutes), the violin museum, the medieval centre and Cremonese restaurants.

Dellearti Design Hotel (centro storico, 2.5 km)

Four-star boutique design hotel near the Torrazzo and Cathedral. Atmospheric base for combining football with Cremona's violin and medieval heritage.

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Hotel Impero (Piazza della Pace, 2.5 km)

Four-star in central Cremona with classic Italian provincial-city elegance. Walking distance to the violin museum and the medieval centre.

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Locanda Torriani (centro storico, 2.5 km)

Mid-range option in the medieval centre. Smaller and more intimate, atmospheric for shorter stays.

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B&B Hotel Cremona Le Caselle (suburbs, 4 km)

Mid-range chain in the suburbs, practical for visitors arriving by car and convenient for the stadium.

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Milan, Parma or Bologna (Alternative Bases)

Cremona is 1 hour by train from Milan, 45 minutes from Parma and 1.5 hours from Bologna — making day-tripping from any of these cities practical. For multi-stadium tours combining Cremonese with San Siro, Tardini or Dall'Ara, basing in a larger city and day-tripping is a viable alternative.

Our Recommendation

For most visitors, central Cremona is the best base — the city is one of Italy's most underrated heritage destinations (violin museum, Torrazzo, medieval centre, Cremonese cuisine) and the stadium is a 30-minute walk from the centro storico. The Dellearti Design Hotel and Hotel Impero are excellent atmospheric central choices. For multi-stadium tours, basing in Milan or Parma and day-tripping is practical.