Torino Palavela

Palavela, formerly known as Palazzo delle Mostre and Palazzo a Vela is an indoor arena that is located in Turin, Italy, on the bank of the River Po. It was designed by engineer Franco Levi and architects Annibale and Giorgio Rigotti. The arena is 130 metres in diameter. The Palavela was featured in the 1969 film The Italian Job. In a famous scene in the film, three Minis are seen driving onto and over the arena's distinctive roof. It has a seating capacity for a maximum 12,200 people,[6] and 9,200 when configured for basketball games.[2]

PalaVela
The Palazzo a Vela photographed in 1961 by Paolo Monti
Former namesPalazzo delle Mostre
Palazzo a vela
LocationVia Ventimiglia, 145, 10127 Turin, Italy
Coordinates45°01′24″N 7°40′09″E
OwnerCity of Turin[1]
TypeIndoor arena
CapacityBasketball: 9,200[2][3]
Figure skating and Short track: 8,285[4]
Construction
Built1959–1961[4]
Opened1961
RenovatedOctober 2003 - December 2004[1]
Construction cost110 Million lire[5]
Panoramic view of Expo 61 with Palazzo a Vela, photographed by Paolo Monti in 1961.

History

Palavela was originally built for the Italia '61 Expo, and was renovated for the figure skating and short track speed skating events at the 2006 Winter Olympics.[7] As part of the renovation, a new seating system was installed at the arena.[8] The cost of the renovation was 55,000,000 euros. It also hosted some events of the XXIII Winter Universiade in 2007. In 2008, the Palavela hosted the 24th European Rhythmic Gymnastics. It hosted the 2010 World Figure Skating Championships in March 2010.

The arena also hosted the 2008 ULEB Cup Final Eight,[2] and also the same event, under the competition's new name of EuroCup, in the 2008–09 season.[3]

Events held

References
  1. "PalaVela Turin". Floornature.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016.
  2. "Turin, Italy to host first Final Eight!". EuroCupBasketball.com. 30 October 2007.
  3. "Eurocup Final Eight dates changed". EuroCupBasketball.com. 15 January 2009.
  4. RESTRUCTURING OF THE PALAVELA AND CONSTRUCTION OF FIGURE SKATING AND SHORT-TRACK FACILITY Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Restauri". Italia61.it.
  6. "Final Eight tickets on sale starting Feb. 18". EuroCupBasketball.com. 14 February 2008. Archived from the original on 1 June 2008.
  7. 2006 Winter Olympics official report. Volume 3. pp. 76-8.
  8. The Palavela arena
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