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Palazzetto dello Sport in Rome: Nervi’s "jellyfish" that transformed sports architecture
Located in Piazza Apollodoro, in the Flaminio district, the Palazzetto dello Sport is one of the most widely studied buildings of 20th-century Italian architecture. It was designed between 1956 and 1958 for the 1960 Rome Olympics, with Annibale Vitellozzi handling the architectural design and Pier Luigi Nervi responsible for the engineering and structures. The renowned critic Bruno Zevi described it as "an enormous jellyfish": its corrugated shell, supported by 36 Y-shaped trestles (buttresses), was and remains one of the most recognisable icons of modern Italian architecture.
How the structure functions
The shell consists of 1,620 precast, diamond-shaped ferro-cement elements. The inclined trestles support the dome by distributing its load down to a prestressed foundation ring that keeps the roof in equilibrium. The scalloped, corrugated edge of the perimeter is not merely aesthetic; it provides essential structural stability. The playing court is situated three metres below ground level, allowing spectators to enter at the upper concourse level and look down towards the arena. Natural light floods the interior through continuous perimeter glazing and the central oculus (lantern) on top.
Past and present
Conceived as a prototype for a medium-sized venue suitable for sports competitions and cultural events, the arena remains fully operational today. The Palazzetto now forms part of a conceptual cultural hub connecting the MAXXI Museum, Auditorium Parco della Musica, and Flaminio Stadium, shaping the vibrant cultural district of the Flaminio district that the 1960 Olympics helped to establish.
