Stadiums Built Over Ancient Ruins and Historic Landmarks

11. San Mamés – Bilbao, Spain

Before Athletic Bilbao’s famous San Mamés Stadium was built, the site was home to a 12th-century church dedicated to Saint Mammes, a Christian martyr. Saint Mammes was revered in medieval Spain, particularly among Basque communities, and his name was carried over when the football stadium was established in 1913. Though the original church was demolished long ago, some archaeological remnants of its foundation were discovered when the stadium was expanded in 2013. Nicknamed "The Cathedral", San Mamés still carries religious and cultural symbolism from its ancient past. Some Athletic Bilbao fans even view their home ground as a place of football worship, where team loyalty is almost as sacred as faith itself. Today, San Mamés stands as a modern coliseum, but beneath it lies centuries of history, where religion and sport have found an unlikely coexistence. Built Over: A 12th-Century Church.