Kantrida – a unique stadium between the cliffs and the sea

Kantrida stadium has been the home stadium of HNK Rijeka, a Croatian first-league football club, since 1946. In the past, it bore the Italian name of Stadio Comunale del Littorio. It was officially opened on 1 June 1912, when football clubs Victoria and Građanski played a friendly game there.

The HŠK Victora football club used the stadium until the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and the ownership over Kantrida stabilised only after the end of the World War II. That is when the newly established NK Kvarner football club, existing even today under the name HNK Rijeka, became its “permanent resident”. In earlier times, the stadium could seat around 25 thousand spectators, and the record number was achieved in 1999 when 26 thousand fans gathered there to see the Rijeka – Osijek match.

A New York mayor played in Rijeka

Football has been played in Rijeka since 1873, when the workers of the Hungarian national railroad played a match against the workers of the famous Rijeka technical factory to commemorate the opening of the Rijeka – Karlovac railway line. First football clubs were established very soon afterwards, but they played on improvised football fields. One of the most popular players of the time was the future mayor of New York Fiorello la Guardia, who used to live in Rijeka.
The year 1912 marks the end of the era of playing football on improvised fields, as that is the year when a proper stadium, Kantrida, was built. Kantrida is truly special thanks to its position with a great view of the sea.

Kantrida was built in a quarry

The place where the stadium is located used to serve as a quarry and it is the reason Kantrida is called the “stadium under the cliffs”. This is an attractive location, with views of the deep blue sea on one side, and of the rugged cliffs on the other. Above the stadium goes a road, from which you can also watch a match, while enjoying the view of small ships at the open sea. Today, Kantrida serves only as a backup stadium, but it is still considered to be one of the most beautiful stadiums in the whole world.

A very unusual stadium

Kantrida is a very unusual stadium. One of the stands is literally carved into rock, while the other is right by the sea. Even British press included Kantrida on the list of most unusual football stadiums in the world. The stadium lights look like masts of ships that are just passing by… We hope that you have experienced just a part of this unique atmosphere and enjoyed the view of the sea while cheering on your favourite club, because the new stadium that is to be built in the near future will erase the priceless view…
The stadium has been renovated for the final time in 2010, but soon afterwards discussions started about building a new stadium. Even though ten years have already passed from the announcement of the new stadium, it would seem that nothing has been done about it yet. Despite that, this stadium has remained in the memories of many people who have seen it even once, as well as in that of the many residents of Rijeka.

It would be truly special to once more see a Croatian National League match or even a Champions League one on the newly renovated or newly built stadium located between the cliffs and the sea. This unique stadium will surely be charged with an exciting atmosphere that all football fans who feel it will remember forever. We believe that the existing promenade and beach nearby will also go through a bit of landscaping, so fans will be able to enjoy the refreshment of the clear blue Adriatic near the stadium as well.