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. It has a seating capacity for a maximum 12,200 people,^[7] and 9,200 when configured for basketball games.^[2]

PalaVela

Palavela during the 2006 Winter Olympics
Former names	Palazzo delle Mostre Palazzo a vela
Location	Via Ventimiglia, 145, 10127 Turin, Italy
Coordinates	45°01′24″N 7°40′09″E
Owner	City of Turin[1]
Capacity	Basketball: 9,200[2][3] Figure skating and Short track: 8,285[4]
Construction
Built	1959–1961[4]
Opened	1961
Renovated	October 2003 – December 2004,[1] 2018[5]
Construction cost	110 Million lire[6]
Architect	Annibale and Giorgio Rigotti Gae Aulenti (renovation)
Structural engineer	Franco Levi
Website
http://www.palavelatorino.it/

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.

History

Panoramic view of Expo 61 with Palazzo a Vela, photographed by Paolo Monti in 1961.

Front entrance during the 2006 Winter Olympics test events

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.^[8] As part of the renovation, a new seating and scoring systems were installed at the arena.^[9] The cost of the renovation was 55,000,000 euros.

It also hosted the same events during the 2007 Winter Universiade. 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

• 2005 European Figure Skating Championships
• 2006 Winter Olympics (Figure Skating and Short Track Speed Skating)
• 2007 Winter Universiade (Figure Skating and Short Track Speed Skating)
• 2007–2008 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final
• 2008 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships
• 2010 World Figure Skating Championships
• 2017 European Short Track Speed Skating Championships
• 2019 Grand Prix Figure Skating Final
• 2022 Grand Prix Figure Skating Final

See also

• List of indoor arenas in Italy

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. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018.
3. "Eurocup Final Eight dates changed". EuroCupBasketball.com. 15 January 2009. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011.
4. RESTRUCTURING OF THE PALAVELA AND CONSTRUCTION OF FIGURE SKATING AND SHORT-TRACK FACILITY Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
5. "PALAVELA". Turismo Torino e Provincia - Convention Bureau. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
6. "Restauri". Italia61.it.
7. "Final Eight tickets on sale starting Feb. 18". EuroCupBasketball.com. 14 February 2008. Archived from the original on 1 June 2008.
8. 2006 Winter Olympics official report. Volume 3. pp. 76-8.
9. "The Palavela arena". 22 July 2011. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011.

External links

Media related to Palazzo a Vela at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (in Italian)