World Travel Guide

City Guide  - Florence  - Sport
Sport

Football is a national passion in Italy. It takes priority over food, politics and religion. In Florence, the citizens celebrate their patron saint day (24 June) with a historic football match in medieval dress, and even during this so-called 'friendly' match, passions can quickly boil over. Florence's national football team, the Serie A Fiorentina, is among the best in Italy's premier league, largely thanks to the Argentine Gabriel Batistuta. The team are distinguished by their cardinal purple strip, earning them the nickname La Viola. Their home ground is the Artemio Franchi Stadium on Viale Manfredo Fanti (tel/fax: (055) 587 858; web site: www.acfiorentina.it) and games are played on alternate Sundays August to May. Tickets can be purchased at Caricentro, Via Ricasoli 9 (tel: (055) 293 434), or at the Toto booth in Piazza della Reppubblica. Seats cost L50-200,000.

Golf:
The hills of 'Chiantishire' are not ideal for golf, but visitors can test their handicap at two local clubs. The first, Golf Club Montelupo (tel: (0571) 541 004), offers a tight course of nine holes right on the banks of the Arno, 26km (16 miles) from the city centre. The second, Golf Club Ugolino (tel: (055) 230 1009, is an 18-hole course, just ten kilometres (six miles) from Florence, and romantically located in an olive grove, although it is only open in winter. Fees start at L70,000.

Tennis:
Public tennis courts can be found at the Circolo Carraia, Via Monti alle Croci (tel: (055) 234 6353). Courts cost L26,000 per hour and are open 0800-2300.



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