The town of the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo and the Uffizi. The cradle of the Renaissance and the home of Dante Alighieri. And of course, the town that hosts the Stadio Artemio Franchi, the home of Fiorentina. A trip to Florence to watch the Gigliati is a must for fans of Italian Football, a club that represents history and tradition, playing at one of the iconic grounds of the peninsula.
Tickets
Apart from a rare Champions League or big Europa League game, or a Serie A game against a top club, especially rivals Juventus, it is not difficult to find tickets to watch the Viola.
They can be bought from the club’s official website, by clicking here.
Alternatively, they can be purchased by phone: +39 055 5532803
Tickets can also be purchased from the official ticket office located on Via Dei Sette Santi 28 R, at the Fiorentina Point on Viale Manfredo Fanti 85/A, or at the authorised selling points at various shops or bars around that area – the complete list is available here.
On match day only, they can also be bought at the Botteghini by the Stadium Artemio Franchi, but it is not advisable for big games.
Prices vary depending on where you choose to sit and the importance of the game. The pulsating heart of the Fiorentina supporters are in the curva Fiesole, and tickets here cost between €10 and €20, depending on the game.
If you want the real experience, it’s the place to go. No sitting down and 90 minutes of chanting – and you might even manage to see a bit of the game. It is a lot of fun, but the available places are very few as most of the seats are occupied by season ticket holders.
Executive or luxury seats cost up to €250 in the Tribuna d’Onore, the centre of the covered section of the stadium, with the best view.
If you choose the Maratona, the opposite side of the stadium but not covered, you get a perfect angle to watch the game, just as in the Tribuna, with a cost of around €40 on average.
The curva Ferrovia, opposite the Fiesole, is the cheapest sector. The angle is not great, but it usually has many tourists as it is nearly always available. Tickets here cost roughly between €10 and €20.
Hotel
There are a number of cheap hotels and hostels available for very reasonable prices located in or around the town centre.
They are mainly located around Firenze Santa Maria Novella, Florence’s main train station which makes it a prime location for anyone looking for a comfortable and practical stay. The town itself is small, so location does not matter too much as most notable places of interest are within walking distance.
Flights
Florence is serviced by two airports: Peretola and Pisa. Peretola is a five minute drive to the city centre and is the main airport of Florence, but flights to this destination tend to be quite expensive. The low cost airlines, such as Rynair and EasyJet fly to Pisa, which is around an hour drive or train journey away from Florence.
A shuttle bus from Pisa to the train station of Firenze Santa Maria Novella will cost about €10. A taxi would be very expensive, whereas taking a taxi from Peretola can be done, as it is only a short ride and much more comfortable than public transport.
Around Florence
Aside from the football, there is plenty in this cultural hub to keep you entertained. Florence is an open air museum and every corner of the town has something to offer.
The Duomo Cathedral is a must see – both inside and there is access to the roof with some sensational views of the city from there for those with an eye for heights.
A visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s famous ‘David’ and a visit to the Uffizi (for both booking is highly recommended) have to be done while in Florence, as well as enjoying the unicity and beauty of the Ponte Vecchio.
If you want to stay with the football theme, a visit to the Museo del Calcio, the football museum based in Coverciano, where the Italian National team gathers and trains. Here you can admire all the great moments of Italian football, from the greatest club teams to the international triumphs of the Azzurri.
Food
If you avoid the really touristy restaurants in the centre, around the Duomo, food is fairly cheap with a pizza or pasta dish costing between €7-€10 while there are also a number of cafes and trattorias that serve paninis or pizza at any time of the day.
The Antico Vinaio, located in Via de’ Neri, is a great option for cheap and really traditional Tuscan food.
Another place where you can find traditional food at a small price is the San Lorenzo market, which is packed with small restaurants.
For a more formal option by the Duomo, Yellow Bar offers the right mix of quality food and comfort, with accessible prices and a variation of dishes, from pasta to pizza and quality meats.
Bars
For those who want to experience the real pre-game traditional feeling, Bar Marisa is the place to go, just before a match. The bulk of the old-style Fiorentina fans gather here to analyse the club’s situation, players and ambitions – and you can also buy tickets.
For bars to explore at night, head to Santa Croce, in the centre, where the young Florentines spend their evenings. A brilliant place to experience Florence by night.
Alternatively, the bars in Piazza della Repubblica offer a stylish option to spend an evening in the heart of the city, right by the Duomo. You can go for a walk from here to all the buildings that make this city famous, all the way to the wonderfully lit Ponte Vecchio.
Travel to the Artemio Franchi
The nearest train station is Firenze Campo di Marte, just 400 metres from the stadium.
However, the best way to reach the Artemio Franchi, considering the incredible traffic on match days, is to go by bus: the 7, 17 or 20 from the main train station Santa Maria Novella or from the San Marco Square, right in the town centre, take you just outside the stadium. Look out for extra services on match days.
If you’re feeling adventurous, hire a moped – Florence has one of the highest percentages of mopeds to inhabitants in the world, and the reason is simple: you jump most of the traffic.
At the Artemio Franchi
Before entering the stadium, ensure you have all appropriate documentation with you – i.e. match ticket and a valid passport or driver’s licence.
There are also a number of vendors around the outside of the stadium selling various pieces of club kit (none of it official), flags, scarves, t-shirts and other assorted items as well as food and drink and most is well priced, especially the food, although there are some exceptions.
If you go for the luxury of the Tribuna d’Onore you can enjoy food and drinks provided within the Franchi.
For those who choose the adventure of an Italian curva with the ultras, then the tradition is to have a Panini with local porchetta or salsiccia, accompanied by red wine or beer, and then head in well before the start of the game to start chanting and supporting the team.
The stadium is old, but architecturally historic, and hence cannot be demolished: it was built between 1930 and 1932 from the project of Pier Luigi Nervi, and is in the form of a D, representing Duce, Benito Mussolini’s title.
Cost
Hotel: One night – €50-€100
Hostel: One night – €20-€40
Flights: €50-100 return (obviously this is dependent on time of year, schedule etc)
Airport transfer: €10 return
Match ticket: €10-€250
Food: €6-10 pizza/pasta, €4-6 panini
Drink: Tea/Coffee €1, Coke €4, Beer €5
Bus: €1.20 per journey
Nice Post… I like to explore different places with cheap and appropriate budgets. In Fiorentina, also provide cheap flight, hotels and bars with reasonable price as per the visitor needs and requirements.