Whenever you are in the breathtaking city of Florence it is always fun to pay a quick visit to the Stadio Artemio Franchi of Fiorentina. Besides, the capital of Tuscany is also home to one of the nicest football museums in Italy.
A semi-oval bowl in the open air, with just a single covered main stand. It's the recipe for a classic Italian stadium and architecturally, Artemio Franchi ticks all the boxes. The stadium of Fiorentina also has a beautiful, monumental entrance, like most old stadiums in Serie A.
The splendid purple (‘La Viola’) of Fiorentina gives the stadium even more allure. The seats on the main stand have the club colours, on the opposite side purple seats form the club name 'ACF Fiorentina'. And on top of that, you can see the green hills of Tuscany from inside the stadium.
A visit to Fiorentina can be combined perfectly with a vacation or a romantic weekend. The fact that the city alone is more than worth a visit needs no further explanation. From the historical city centre take an Uber or taxi to the stadium, which is in the northeast of Florence. It's, unfortunately, a bit too far on foot. The neighbourhood surrounding the stadium has its charm but is not as beautiful as the city centre. Right next to Artemio Franchi, you'll also find a nice athletics stadium, a swimming pool and a skate park.
You probably wouldn't expect it in the in some ways a little posh Florence - rather in Milan or Turin - but one of the best football museums in Italy can be found in this city. On the Viale Aldo Palazzeschi 20, is the 'Museo del Calcio' located, near the headquarters of the Italian football association. In a yellow building, you'll find a treasury of Italian football souvenirs, among which are original shirts and the four World Cups Italy won over the years. The charming museum is a little further from the city centre but is absolutely worth a visit.
A little north of the museum you'll find the complex of the ‘Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio’ in the area of Coverciano, the headquarters of the Italian football association. (The offices of the association are in Rome, but the training ground of the national team is here.)
The complex is not hypermodern or very luxurious but it is beautifully located between the plane trees, a bit like Milanello.
A classic among Fiorentina fans is Bar Marisa, right in front of the entrance of the stadium. Marvellous coffee and football shirts on the wall: This bar can live up to the standards of a perfect Italian coffee shop. You can also buy tickets for Fiorentina's home matches here, and the club's fan store is right next door.
Does your partner really hate football? Near the famous Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, in the heart of the city, you'll find the second fan store of Fiorentina. That might not sound that special - all fan stores are a bit the same - but the one of 'La Viola' is a nice exception. The shirts of Fiorentina are so classy and beautiful that it's hard to keep your wallet closed.
If you're on holiday in Tuscany anyway, you can easily pay a quick visit to the other Stadio Artemio Franchi in the region. This charming stadium of ACN Siena 1904 (Serie C) has exactly the same name, named after the same former football director, and is really worth a visit. Beautifully located and old school. On weekdays, this stadium functions as a parking lot as well. You park under the stands and can just walk in. Groundhopping has never been easier.
Visiting a match of Fiorentina is totally worth it, the atmosphere in Artemio Franchi is fantastic and the fans are very fanatic. Tickets can usually easily be bought on the website of Fiorentina, or at 'Fiorentina Point' on the Via dei Sette Santi, two blocks away from the stadium.
Take at motorway A1 exit Firenze Sud and follow the road until 'Stadio' appears on the signs. Artemio Franchi is also well connected by train: In walking distance of the stadium, you'll find train station Firenze Campo di Marte, where both regional trains (to central station Firenze Santa Maria Novella for example) and long distance trains to the rest of the country stop. From the city centre, you can also take bus 7, 17, or 20.
Images: Shutterstock, SANTOS
