Touring Italy... Soccer Fan Style

Soccer in Italy is a passion. Teams are followed with absolute devotion.

Soccer is known as il Calcio in Italian and is considered “the beautiful game.”

The Italian league consists of four divisions: Serie A, B, C1 and C2. The top domestic league is Serie A.

Virtually every town in Italy has some kind of soccer team, so even if you are not in one of the bigger cities you can be sure to find a match being played somewhere.

Calcio season is almost year round, running from late August until May, with a break in December and January.

The Derby Della Madonnina between AC Milan vs. Inter Milan is one of the world’s most watched games and is played in the San Siro stadium.

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan is more popularly known as San Siro Stadium.

The Derby Della Capitale is between the Eternal City’s two teams, AS Roma vs. Lazio Roma, who battle it out at the Stadio Olimpico.

Stadio San Paolo in Naples is home of Napoli and is the third largest football stadium in Italy after San Siro and Stadio Olimpico.

Juventus Stadium in Turin is home to the Juventus Football Club.

Stadio Renzo Barbera is owned by the town of Palermo and is used to the home matches of the football team of Palermo Calcio.

It is best to buy tickets directly from the team’s club outlets in the city you are visiting. Buying tickets online can be confusing and frustrating and much more expensive.

Some teams and certain matches have particularly intense emotions and a trip to the stadium can be a rough and rowdy affair.

Make sure you know what side of the stadium you are sitting and wear neutral or appropriate colors.

The Curva is where the most intense fans sit and is probably best avoided unless you really are a hardcore fan.

You may want to watch a game at a local pub or bar for a slightly more relaxed experience.

Team rivalries are set aside every four years when the national team, the Azzuri, play in the World Cup.

The World Cup will be played in Brazil from June 12 to July 13. Hopes are high that the Azzurri team, led by Cesare Prandelli, can repeat the success of 2006.

If you are a soccer fan visiting Florence on the feast of San Giovanni, you are in for a treat.

Calcio Storico dates back to the 16th century wherein the players are dressed in traditional medieval costumes. There is a festive parade the morning of the match.

Fans chant dai, dai, dai, with great fervor. It means go, go, go to encourage their players on.

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