Stadio Civico Libero Ferrario

Did a fierce bull once roam these very streets? They say a young Libero Ferrario, the very man for whom Stadio Civico Libero Ferrario is named, wrestled one down with his bare hands right here in Parabiago. It’s a tale that’s become almost legendary, a testament to the strength and spirit of the man who would later conquer the cycling world. This stadium, Stadio Civico Libero Ferrario, stands as a tribute to his remarkable life, cut tragically short at just 28 years old by tuberculosis. Libero Ferrario, born in Parabiago in 1901, wasn’t just a local hero. He was a national icon. In 1923, he became the first Italian to win the UCI World Amateur Road Race Championships in Zurich. Imagine the jubilation, the pride of this small Italian town. His victories weren’t limited to the world stage. He also claimed titles at the Coppa Bernocchi, Piccolo Giro di Lombardia, Coppa Cittá di Busto Arsizio, and Tre Valli Varesine. Stadio Civico Libero Ferrario isn’t just a place for soccer; it’s a sports center with a running track and an indoor gym. It’s part of a larger complex that includes a swimming pool and sunbathing area, a testament to the multifaceted athletic spirit that Ferrario embodied. The stadium, with its grand entrance and ticket booths facing Viale Marconi, holds the echoes of cheering crowds and the memory of a young man who dared to dream big. Today, his legacy lives on not only in the name of Stadio Civico Libero Ferrario but also in the annual Targa Libero Ferrario, an amateur cycling race held in his honor right here in the streets of Parabiago. A bronze bust of Ferrario once graced his tomb in the local cemetery, a constant reminder of the champion they lost too soon. The bust may be gone now, stolen by unknown hands, but the spirit of Libero Ferrario remains, woven into the fabric of this town and this stadium that bears his name.