The Eccellenza ([ettʃelˈlɛntsa], "excellence") is the fifth level (since 2014–15) of Italian football.
[1] It is a regional league, composed of 28 divisions divided geographically.
After the regular season is completed, the first-placed team for each division is automatically promoted to Serie D. Each division also admits one other team to participate in national playoffs that take place in late May and early June.
Once the 28 national playoff participants are finalized, they are paired in a double-leg series, and the 14 winners participate in a second round double-leg series.
One more place to Serie D is allowed to the winner of the "Coppa Italia Dilettanti" (Amateur Italian Cup), a year-long competition between all the national teams of both Eccellenza and Promozione (the lower division).