It was hosted in several cities in Italy from 28 September to 6 October 1991, with the final round held in Rome.

*Note: As Italy qualified as hosts and for finishing the 1989 tournament as third, Romania gained a qualification place for finishing fourth in 1989.

In the first stage, the twelve participants were divided in two groups of six teams each.

The group stage firsts and seconds played the semifinals for first to fourth place, group stage thirds and fourths played the fifth to eighth place semifinals and the remaining four teams which finished group stages as fifth and sixth ended all tied in final ranking at ninth place.

The pairing of the semifinals was made so teams played against the opposite group teams which finished in a different position (first played against second, third played against fourth).