Florence Sports & Outdoors Tips by Henrik_rrb

Going to a football game in Florence for sure is a spectacular experience! The home crowd of Fiorentina is among the most colourful in Italy, and definately among those who most loves their club.

Even when Fiorentina went bancrupt back in the beginning of the 2000s, the spectators never let their club down. They had about 25 000 spectators at every game, while playing in the fourth division!?

Since a few years Fiorentina is back where they belong, in Serie A. And the owner family, Della Valle, has made sure to put as much money into the club that they can fight among the top teams in the league. With star players like Adrian Mutu, Christian Vieri and goalkeeper Sebastian Frey it's not a too huge problem that former hero Luca Toni left for Bayern Munich last summer.

As always now in Italy Fiorentina are playing at home every second weekend. Mostly on Sunday afternoon, but now and then also on saturday evening or Sunday evening. The best games to see are those against the other top clubs, like Milan, Inter, Juventus and Roma.

With the new, much harder, rules in the italian football getting a ticket to a game is always a problem! Best option would be to ask at your hotel a few days before the match (as early as possible if it's a big game coming up) if they can help you out. You'll need your passport, as your name will be printed on the ticket, and then controlled against your passport when you enter the stadium.

The Curva Fiesole is the place where the most hardcore supporters, the ultras, stands. If you're not familiar with what is going on there, or where you should or shouldn't stand, that is not the place for you.

A first visit to Stadio Artemio Franchi would be in one of the two tribunes. Tickets quite much more expensive, but then you'll have your seat. And watching football in Italy isn't expensive, as in England for example.
For a good seat in the tribune you'll pay about 30-60 euro, maximum.

Equipment: A viola scarf could be nice to wear. If you're cheering for the away team, be neutral. Specially if you cheer for any of the big enemies, like Juventus, Roma or Milan, Inter.

Address: Stadio Artemio Franchi

Directions: In the east of the city you'll find the football stadium. Possible to take a bus there (not too sure, but I think it is number 12). A taxi from the central station will cost you about 15-20 euro.

Theme: Sports Watching

Website: http://www.fiorentina.it