Olympic Village 1960

The site selected for the 1960 Olympics was a strategic location along the ancient Via Flaminia. This area along the flood plain of the Tiber had long been used as a site for sporting events. Previously it had been the Piazza d´Armi for horse events and there was a hippodrome. Is was also easy accessible to Foro Italico across the river to the west where facilities built in the 1930's already existed including a stadium. Planned Olympic facilities included 2 stadiums and housing for the athletes. One stadium was to be used for football, the Stadio Flaminio, 1959, and the other for indoor sports, the Palazzetto dello Sport, 1958. Designed by Pier Luigi Nervi. The apartments were to be used after the games as dwellings for 6500 people. The Olympic Village was a showcase project for Rome in the years following World War II. In addition to the 2 stadiums and 1500 or so dwellings, the Olympic Village is a more-or-less complete community including shopping, schools, and a church.