Stadio Artemio Franchi

The stadium's history is closely bound up with both Florence itself and the broader story of twentieth-century Italian football, combining architectural legacy with a rich sporting record.

Construction and opening

The stadium was designed by Pier Luigi Nervi, a pioneering structural engineer and architect celebrated for his mastery of reinforced concrete. Construction ran from 1930 to 1931 and the ground opened in 1931. Its most striking innovations were the cantilevered roof over the main stand and the distinctive helical staircases that remain landmarks of the exterior. The original name was Stadio Giovanni Berta, after a Florentine fascist activist. After the Second World War the name was changed to the neutral Stadio Comunale (1940-1991). In 1991 the stadium was renamed in honour of Artemio Franchi (1922-1983), a prominent Italian football administrator and long-serving president of both the Italian Football Federation and UEFA.

Major renovations

The most significant modernisation came ahead of the 1990 FIFA World Cup, when roof coverage was extended and capacity and spectator comfort were improved. Renovations have been constrained by monument status: Nervi's original concrete structure, including the celebrated helical staircases and cantilevered canopy, has been preserved. Subsequent works have focused on upgrading technical infrastructure and improving disabled access.

Notable moments

The stadium hosted group and knockout matches at both the 1934 and 1990 FIFA World Cups. Football matches for the 1960 Rome Olympics were also played here. ACF Fiorentina won the Serie A title while based at Franchi and reached their finest European nights here, including the Cup Winners' Cup final run. Across the decades the ground has witnessed memorable Florence derbies and pivotal Serie A encounters that define the club's history.

The atmosphere at Franchi has a character rooted in the old bowl of the ground, a loyal and passionate supporter base, and the deep identification of Florence with its club. On matchdays, the violet colour of la Viola fills Campo di Marte well before kick-off.

Fan culture

ACF Fiorentina commands one of the most loyal fan cultures in Italian football. Supporting la Viola in Florence is bound to local civic identity in a way that few clubs outside Italy can match. The most active supporter sections occupy the Curva Fiesole (north end) and the Curva Ferrovia (south end), home to the ultras groups who organise coordinated chanting, massed flags, and pyrotechnic displays for high-stakes fixtures. The atmosphere is emotional, at times theatrical, and always intensely local.

Big matches

Franchi's most atmospheric evenings have been European nights in UEFA Cup and Champions League competition, when the enclosed bowl concentrates noise from tens of thousands of Tuscan supporters. Serie A fixtures against AC Milan, Juventus and AS Roma regularly produced some of the most dramatic football in the Italian top flight. During the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the stadium hosted a memorable group stage involving a range of nations, bringing a global audience to the Campo di Marte. Every home fixture for la Viola remains an event of citywide significance in Florence.

Visiting Stadio Artemio Franchi is logistically straightforward and offers the chance to experience one of Europe's most architecturally significant football grounds.

How to get there

• Train: Campo di Marte railway station sits directly opposite the stadium -- trains from Florence's main station Santa Maria Novella run frequently and the journey takes approximately 8 minutes
• Tram: Line T2 connects the airport and city centre; the closest stop is Libertà
• Bus: ATAF lines 6, 11 and 17 run from the city centre to the Campo di Marte area
• Car: Street parking nearby is limited; public transport is strongly recommended on matchdays

Tickets and tours

Match tickets for ACF Fiorentina are sold through the official club website and authorised resellers. Most Serie A fixtures are not sold out, but high-profile matches against Juventus or AS Roma should be booked in advance. Architectural tours of the ground can be arranged through the club; the stadium's listed status makes it a destination for architectural visitors beyond football.

Visitor tips

• Architecture: Nervi's original helical staircases and concrete canopy are architectural landmarks -- arrive early and walk the exterior before entering
• When to arrive: At least 60 minutes before kick-off for key fixtures to clear security comfortably
• Food and drink: The streets of Campo di Marte have traditional trattorias and bars; the Italian pre-match ritual of espresso and a panino is best observed locally
• Weather: Florentine winters can be cold -- an extra layer is recommended for evening fixtures