Palestra Polivalente

The Palestra Polivalente sits in the Furreddu area of Nuoro. It is a small hall. The capacity is 200. It is not a grand arena, but it is the only indoor sports hall of its size in the area.

The floor inside is not the same as the outdoor pitches down the road. It is a wooden parquet surface, laid flat and polished. The hall does not have a single purpose; it is a shared space. On some days it holds the touch of archery arrows; on others, the heavy thud of powerlifting weights. The air changes depending on which sport is being played.

HAC Nuoro calls this building home for their women's and men's handball matches. The Italian Serie A1 Femminile and the Serie B Maschile leagues bring teams here to play in front of a crowd that fills the small stands. It is a local stage, not a national one. The tournaments held here, like the archery competition or the handball tournament in recent years, are events that matter to the town. It is not a destination for international tourists, but it is a destination for the people who live here.

The building itself is plain. It does not have a curved roof like the stadiums in the bigger cities, nor does it have a complex façade. It is a functional space, built to serve the community. The entrance is unassuming, and the doors open directly onto the playing area. There is no separation between the spectator and the action. The players are close enough to see the faces of those watching from the stands. It is a place where the game is played without the barrier of distance.