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San Nicola Stadium, located in the city of Bari, is the largest sports facility in southern Italy. Designed by Renzo Piano, the stadium now shines in bright colours after the official debut on the occasion of the Italy-Malta match, a crucial fixture in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.

In preparation for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Bari was chosen as one of the 12 Italian host cities. The need for a new stadium for this prestigious sporting event led to the renowned architect Renzo Piano being entrusted with the project, and he fondly nicknamed the new stadium the 'Spaceship' due to its striking modern design.

The initial plan aimed for a covered football stadium with 45,000 seats, arranged in two concentric rings. The lower ring was situated upon an artificial hill, while the upper ring was designed to create the illusion of being suspended in the air. For safety considerations, the architect divided the upper part of the second ring into 26 "petals," each positioned 8 meters apart. This arrangement facilitated the isolation of visiting fan groups and prevented clashes between rival supporters. Consequently, the stadium's seating was increased to its current capacity of 58,270 seats. In 2007, it was officially recognized by decree for its 'particular artistic character' owing to its indisputable architectural quality and its role in advancing sports facility design, including the layout and distribution of the stands, service structures, accessibility, and structural innovations.