Forza Viola! Attending a Fiorentina Match
Soccer, known as futbol in Europe, is Italy’s most popular sport. A trip to a futbol match is a must for anyone looking to soak up an energy filled cultural experience unlike any I’ve witnessed in the United States.
This past weekend I attended a match between Fiorentina and Milan and had a blast cheering on the team with my friends. Here are some things to note before you attend a match!
About Fiorentina
The team’s official name is ACF Fiorentina, which stands for Associazione Calcio Firenze Fiorentina, but you will primarily hear people referring to the team as Fiorentina.
Fiorentina is also nicknamed Viola due to the team’s purple colors, and fans will often yell “Forza Viola” or “Forza Fiorentina” when cheering on the team, which plays in Serie A.
Fiorentina’s symbol is the red fleur-de-lis which is also a symbol of the city of Florence itself.
Getting to the Game
We purchased 40% off discounted tickets for students here, which only cost us about 24 Euro.
Fiorentina plays at Stadio Artemio Franchi which is an easy walk from the historic city center, so you probably won’t need to spend any money on transportation.
The stadium is capable of holding over 47,000 fans
Be sure to bring your ticket with you and a form of ID, as they will check both upon your arrival. You also can’t bring liquids inside the stadium, but you can purchase water, popcorn, beer, hot dogs, and other popular sporting fare once inside.
At the Game
Italians are very passionate about their futbol, so be sure to outfit yourself in Fiorentina apparel or at least avoid wearing the colors of the opposing team. Many rivalries are not friendly, so mentioning the wrong team or wearing the wrong outfit could cause controversy. While I had heard this was the case, it wasn’t until I saw all of the Milan fans separated by a glass barrier and two vacant seating sections that this really sunk in.
The Milan fans in red are clearly separated from the Fiorentina fans.
Along with these rivalries comes a variety of cheers, songs, and chants, some of which I could understand, and some of which were decidedly offensive. Nonetheless everyone in the stands was cheering along and singling while waving flags and banners. I was truly astounded by how coordinated all of the singing was.
The energy at the game was electric, and I was surrounded by a sea of passionate purple-clad Florentines who were clearly enjoying every minute of the game.
Fiorentina ended up winning 2-0, and spirits were high as the stadium goers flooded out.
Forza Fiorentina!
Though I would not describe myself as a futbol fan, experiencing a game in person was an incredible, and almost rivaled my first professional football game (although I will admit the Fiorentina fans were much more animated). I would highly recommend attending a futbol match during a visit to Italy, and look forward to attending more!
Forza Fiorentina!
