Venezia FC is an iconic Italian football club founded in 1907. The club is based in Venice, Italy, a city renowned for its rich history, breathtaking canals, and vibrant cultural heritage. Venezia FC‘s home matches are played at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, one of Italy’s oldest stadiums, located on the picturesque island of Sant’Elena. The stadium’s unique location amidst Venice’s waterways adds to the club’s distinctive charm.
Over the years, Venezia FC has become synonymous with more than just football; it represents a blend of sport, culture, and style. The club’s identity is deeply intertwined with Venice’s artistic and architectural splendour. This connection is reflected in their striking kits, which often incorporate elements of Venetian design and colour schemes reminiscent of the city’s heritage.
Venezia FC’s nickname, I Leoni Alati, is a tribute to the Winged Lion of St. Mark, the emblem of Venice, symbolising strength, courage, and majesty. This emblematic nickname resonates with the club’s proud tradition and the resilience shown by the team throughout its history. Despite facing numerous challenges, including financial difficulties and relegations, Venezia FC has always managed to rise again, embodying the indomitable spirit of Venice itself.
Culturally, Venezia FC holds a special place within Italian and world football. The club is celebrated not only for its on-field performances but also for its off-field aesthetics. The unique intersection of football and fashion at Venezia FC has garnered global attention, making the club a trendsetter in sports design. Their jerseys have been acclaimed as some of the most beautiful in the football world, blending traditional Venetian elements with modern flair.
Leoni di Venezia is a photo series by Andrea Rigano on the Ultras of Venezia Football Club during the 2021-22 Serie A season. The limited edition A5 zine contains 63 colour and black and white photographs across 48 pages.
Leoni di Venezia | Andrea Rigano
A photo series by Andrea Rigano on the Ultras of Venezia FC during their 2021-22 season in Serie A.
A limited edition A5 zine containing 63 colour and black and white photographs across 48 pages.
For the 2021-22 Serie A season, the Leoni di Venezia, the Lions of Venice, had roared back into the top flight of Italian football.
That season made for a colourful return, swathes of orange and green accompanying their triumphant reemergence.
Italian photographer Andrea Rigano was there to record it all, and although their coveted place back In Serie A might have lasted just one season, for Rigano it was well worth the wait.
His pictures all come from that campaign after they had secured promotion the previous season via the play offs. It was to prove only a brief return after a 19 year absence, but for the club, and their fans, they could savour being back in the big time.
For the club’s devoted Ultras they will always be VeneziaMestre, their name after the 1987 amalgamation of two club sides.
Nicknamed the Leoni Alati, the Winged Lions, after the golden crest of the province, their Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo ground, with its 11,000 capacity, first opened in 1913 and is behind only Genoa as the oldest stadium in Italy.
Rigano is passionate about the city and its football team, but for him, it’s the fans that matter. He lists taking pictures of the Ultras as “the best part of football”, and he has dedicated his work to those supporters regarded as ‘Diffidati’, those banned for attending games because of previous crowd trouble.
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