Of all the Tuscan clubs they are probably one of the least-known, but Empoli is a charming little market town with a proud, surprisingly good performing professional team. Ideal to combine with Fiorentina or Pisa, or as a lovely pit stop while on vacation.
We're not going to act like the Stadio Carlo Castellani is the best we've ever been to. The home of Empoli has a running track, the stands are pretty outdated and the location isn't very special either. But still, it has some charm: the stadium ticks all the boxes of a typical Italian 'Stadio Comunale'. A lot of concrete, an oval shape and roofs only at the long sides.
Behind the goals there are a couple of temporary stands, a little distant from the pitch. Still, the atmosphere is quite good, Empoli has a fanatic fan base. The namesake of the stadium has a tragic a story: Carlo Castellani is a former top scorer of Empoli, in 1944 murdered in a concentration camp in Mauthausen, Austria.
Eating bad is in Italy almost impossible, and Empoli is no other to that. Close to the stadium there's a perfect solution for a quick meal on your way to the match: Piadineria GianGusto. A modest but outstanding artigianale sandwich shop. Here you can taste some of the classical Tuscan products, but the piadinas and paninis are also available in several hamburger variants.
The famous manager (and former banker) voormalig bankier) Maurizio Sarri has his real breakthrough in football at Empoli, the club with whom he promoted to the Serie A in 2014 - and continued to perform strongly. Sarri is born in Naples, but still loves to come for a break at the countryside of Tuscany. He still has a villa there, in Castelfranco Piandiscò, a little east of Florence.
Idyllically located on the beautiful Tuscan countryside is the Centro Sportivo Monteboro, the training ground of Empoli and home of the women's team. It's near the small town of Pianezzoli and definitely worth a visit: the buildings are built in classic Tuscan style, between romantic country roads and vineyards. And Empoli's academy (located here) has brought up some good players, like Antonio di Natale, Daniele Rugani and Alessandro Birindelli.
Francesco Tegolo, a former player of Empoli has a beautiful cheese & delicacies shop in the historical centre of the town. His shop Marchio Bufala Battipaglia, at the Via del Giglio, offers you the best mozzarellas you'd imagine.
Empoli is a charming market town, ideal for a daytrip during your vacation in Tuscany. And if you're around: Empoli's fan store is located at the fun and calm Piazza della Vittoria. Bar Vittoria, right next door, has great coffee and a lovely terrace.
When you drive from Pisa to Empoli rijdt, you'll pass a stadium for the true groundhopper. Stadio Libero Masini of UC Cuoiopelli, a semi-pro team from Santa Croce sull'Arno, is worth a visit. The main stand is a fun hodgepodge and the pitch is dramatic, but on match days you can feel the love for the calcio.
For Empoli's home games you can buy your tickets simple and fast at Vivaticket, the Italian ticket site used by several Italian clubs. Usually, tickets go in general sale a week in advance.
Coming from the west at the SGC Firenze - Pisa - Livorno, take exit Empoli and follow the route to the city, until a tiny football appears on the signs. From the east, take exit Empoli Est and follow 'Empoli Centro' whereafter 'stadio' appears on the signs in a minute.
When you come without a car, the train station of Empoli is a 15-minute walk from Carlo Castellani.
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