Palestra Itália foi o nome do clube paulistano fundado em 26 de agosto de 1914 por imigrantes italianos e rebatizado como Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras em 14 de setembro de 1942.
Palestra Itália (SP)
Palestra Itália was the original name of the São Paulo-based club that is today known as Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras. Founded in 1914 by Italian immigrants and their descendants, it used that name until 1942.
History
Palestra Itália was founded on August 26, 1914, in São Paulo, by a group of Italian immigrants and their descendants, and soon became one of the strongest clubs in São Paulo football. The name honored the Italian origin of its founders, and the initial colors resembled the Italian flag: green, white, and red. During the period when it used the name Palestra Itália, the club won eight São Paulo State Championship titles: 1920, 1926, 1927, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936, and 1940. It played its matches at Parque Antárctica, which would become the great stage of the future Palmeiras. In 1942, with Brazil aligned with the Allies in World War II, clubs with names linked to Axis powers were pressured to change their names. On September 14, 1942, Palestra Itália became Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, and the club won the São Paulo State Championship that same year already under its new name.