Estádio do Restelo – stadium description

The stadium was built in place of a quarry in western district of Restelo, from which it took its name. In 1956 taking this plot was a way for Belenenses to avoid homelessness as city council decided to turn their previous ground into residential buildings. Since then it has an open form with south stand being very low and allowing for people in other sections to overlook the sea and southern part of Lisbon.

In 2003-04 it went through a major overhaul as Euro 2004 was close. It was only a training venue back then, but nevertheless it still wouldn’t have been the largest event ever to be held here. Record number of people attended a mass by pope John Paul II, crowd estimated to be around 100,000!

Restelo is one of rather few venues in Portugal to be owned by host clubs rather than municipalities.