FAO Hibbies with Italian Football Interests

[Iggy Pope]

Having a Tuscan holiday (Florence / Pisa).
Looking to take a game in but sadly Fiorentina are away. I see I can get to Empoli v Lazio though.
Livorno look like they kick off there only available game in Serie B at 10.30pm on a Monday night (????).
Can't seem to find a Serie C fixture list and talk of it being disbanded?

Any of you Italian-ites got any info on clubs around Tuscany or a good link to a website with info?

[chinaman]

Having a Tuscan holiday (Florence / Pisa).
Looking to take a game in but sadly Fiorentina are away. I see I can get to Empoli v Lazio though.
Livorno look like they kick off there only available game in Serie B at 10.30pm on a Monday night (????).
Can't seem to find a Serie C fixture list and talk of it being disbanded?

Any of you Italian-ites got any info on clubs around Tuscany or a good link to a website with info?
siena who played in serie a, a few years back went bust and reformed as robur siena in 2014 are also from tuscany. might be worth checking it out.

[Iggy Pope]

siena who played in serie a, a few years back went bust and reformed as robur siena in 2014 are also from tuscany. might be worth checking it out.

Ta. See on their site they are away on the 9th, seem to be Serie C, but can't see a fixture list anywhere. Should've stuck in at that 5th year crash course Italian....

[nickwhibs]

Having a Tuscan holiday (Florence / Pisa).
Looking to take a game in but sadly Fiorentina are away. I see I can get to Empoli v Lazio though.
Livorno look like they kick off there only available game in Serie B at 10.30pm on a Monday night (????).
Can't seem to find a Serie C fixture list and talk of it being disbanded?

Any of you Italian-ites got any info on clubs around Tuscany or a good link to a website with info?

I have only been to games in Genova (Sampdoria and Genoa), and Roma, but the Stadio Luigi Farris is great. Good atmosphere for both teams. It's a few hours away by train from Florence/Pisa though. Have always wanted to go to a Livorno match as again it looks a great wee stadium with some of the best fans in Italy. Maybe try the Football Italia website for more info or the teams' respective websites (usually an option to view in English).

[Jamesie]

I have only been to games in Genova (Sampdoria and Genoa), and Roma, but the Stadio Luigi Farris is great. Good atmosphere for both teams. It's a few hours away by train from Florence/Pisa though. Have always wanted to go to a Livorno match as again it looks a great wee stadium with some of the best fans in Italy. Maybe try the Football Italia website for more info or the teams' respective websites (usually an option to view in English).

I've only watched rugby (Italy v Argentina) in the Stadio Luigi Ferris, back in November 2014, and it is a tight ground with a decent atmosphere (albeit the game took place in very unusual circumstances: Genoa was suffering badly from floods at the time and with another storm on the way, the decision was taken (with less than 24 hours ' notice) to move the game from the eye of the storm on the Saturday to the Friday evening! Consequently it was a far smaller crowd than anticipated.

Livorno have fierce rivalry (principally a left v right political tussle) with Lazio - while in different leagues now I expect that would be quite a spectacle!

[Onceinawhile]

Head up the leaning tower, you'll be able to see right into the pisa stadium.

[Iggy Pope]

I have only been to games in Genova (Sampdoria and Genoa), and Roma, but the Stadio Luigi Farris is great. Good atmosphere for both teams. It's a few hours away by train from Florence/Pisa though. Have always wanted to go to a Livorno match as again it looks a great wee stadium with some of the best fans in Italy. Maybe try the Football Italia website for more info or the teams' respective websites (usually an option to view in English).

The smaller sides websites seem to be Italian with no English. I'll give Football Ialia a bash though if I can find it, Ta. Was looking at Lucchese but can't get to the bottom of it.


I've only watched rugby (Italy v Argentina) in the Stadio Luigi Ferris, back in November 2014, and it is a tight ground with a decent atmosphere (albeit the game took place in very unusual circumstances: Genoa was suffering badly from floods at the time and with another storm on the way, the decision was taken (with less than 24 hours ' notice) to move the game from the eye of the storm on the Saturday to the Friday evening! Consequently it was a far smaller crowd than anticipated.

Livorno have fierce rivalry (principally a left v right political tussle) with Lazio - while in different leagues now I expect that would be quite a spectacle!

Livorno (v Crotone) looks doable but the kick off is 10.30pm on the Monday which would mean difficulty getting back. Empoli have Lazio at home though so that might be the option.

[One Day Soon]

Having a Tuscan holiday (Florence / Pisa).
Looking to take a game in but sadly Fiorentina are away. I see I can get to Empoli v Lazio though.
Livorno look like they kick off there only available game in Serie B at 10.30pm on a Monday night (????).
Can't seem to find a Serie C fixture list and talk of it being disbanded?

Any of you Italian-ites got any info on clubs around Tuscany or a good link to a website with info?


Iggy, how long are you there for?

Might be worth considering travelling by train to a game a bit further away. If so I'd go either Verona v Carpi on Sunday 16th at 2pm or Venezia v Benevento on Friday 14th at 8pm.

Rail time from Florence to Verona is about an hour and a half and to Venice is more like two hours.

With Verona you get Liam Henderson and the joy of Tim Parks book 'A Season with Verona' which is a great read. Verona itself is well worth a visit before the game if you go through early enough. Get down the front with your Hibs top on and see if Liam comes over to deliver his autograph :greengrin.

With Venezia it is a really unusual ground and a club that went from bankruptcy (again) about five years ago to nearly getting Serie A promotion last year. I've never been to the stadium but it's supposed to be unique and they have a small but pretty typically crazy support. The owner wants to move them to a new, bigger stadium if they get into Serie A so who knows how much longer the current ground will even exist? I think Filippo Inzaghi is still the manager. And a day out in Venice beforehand isn't life's worst experience...

Any of that work for you?

[Greenbeard]

Iggy, how long are you there for?

Might be worth considering travelling by train to a game a bit further away. If so I'd go either Verona v Carpi on Sunday 16th at 2pm or Venezia v Benevento on Friday 14th at 8pm.

Rail time from Florence to Verona is about an hour and a half and to Venice is more like two hours.

With Verona you get Liam Henderson and the joy of Tim Parks book 'A Season with Verona' which is a great read. Verona itself is well worth a visit before the game if you go through early enough. Get down the front with your Hibs top on and see if Liam comes over to deliver his autograph :greengrin.

With Venezia it is a really unusual ground and a club that went from bankruptcy (again) about five years ago to nearly getting Serie A promotion last year. I've never been to the stadium but it's supposed to be unique and they have a small but pretty typically crazy support. The owner wants to move them to a new, bigger stadium if they get into Serie A so who knows how much longer the current ground will even exist? I think Filippo Inzaghi is still the manager. And a day out in Venice beforehand isn't life's worst experience...

Any of that work for you?
Verona not too shabby either for a day out - pre-match pranzo and lingering after with Romeo and Juliet stuff to keep la signora contento.

[Ryan69]

Having a Tuscan holiday (Florence / Pisa).
Looking to take a game in but sadly Fiorentina are away. I see I can get to Empoli v Lazio though.
Livorno look like they kick off there only available game in Serie B at 10.30pm on a Monday night (????).
Can't seem to find a Serie C fixture list and talk of it being disbanded?

Any of you Italian-ites got any info on clubs around Tuscany or a good link to a website with info?

I wouldnt bother with Livorno....an absolute dump of a place

[Lendo]

Couple of options.

If the Serie C fixtures get sorted then look at Lucca. Stunning wee walled town in Tuscany. Got a Serie C team called AS Lucchese Libertat 1905.

Technically not Tuscany, BUT easy enough to get the train to La Spezia to go and see ASD Spezia Calcio 2008 (Serie B?). The ground is only a few minutes walk from the central train station i think. Plus it is right next to the Cinque Terre national park which is stunning and worth a visit. .

[One Day Soon]

Couple of options.

If the Serie C fixtures get sorted then look at Lucca. Stunning wee walled town in Tuscany. Got a Serie C team called AS Lucchese Libertat 1905.

Technically not Tuscany, BUT easy enough to get the train to La Spezia to go and see ASD Spezia Calcio 2008 (Serie B?). The ground is only a few minutes walk from the central train station i think. Plus it is right next to the Cinque Terre national park which is stunning and worth a visit. .


Bl00dy Lucca, along with Barga that's where a lot of the Northerners come from that live here.

I actually stayed at Il Ciocco back in the day when Souness had been a regular visitor there with Sampdoria and then Rangers. Very nice, still northern though...

[Jamesie]

Couple of options.

If the Serie C fixtures get sorted then look at Lucca. Stunning wee walled town in Tuscany. Got a Serie C team called AS Lucchese Libertat 1905.

Technically not Tuscany, BUT easy enough to get the train to La Spezia to go and see ASD Spezia Calcio 2008 (Serie B?). The ground is only a few minutes walk from the central train station i think. Plus it is right next to the Cinque Terre national park which is stunning and worth a visit. .

Good shout re the Cinque Terre but I wouldn't bother staying in La Spezia itself - instead I'd suggest staying along the road in Viareggio, a nice seaside spot outside Pisa.

[Jamesie]

With Venezia it is a really unusual ground and a club that went from bankruptcy (again) about five years ago to nearly getting Serie A promotion last year. I've never been to the stadium but it's supposed to be unique and they have a small but pretty typically crazy support. The owner wants to move them to a new, bigger stadium if they get into Serie A so who knows how much longer the current ground will even exist? I think Filippo Inzaghi is still the manager. And a day out in Venice beforehand isn't life's worst experience...


That's the ground that you need to take a boat to isn't it?

[Lendo]

Good shout re the Cinque Terre but I wouldn't bother staying in La Spezia itself - instead I'd suggest staying along the road in Viareggio, a nice seaside spot outside Pisa.

Agreed, La Spezia seemed more like an industrial port town. We stayed in Riomaggiore and loved it.

[Iggy Pope]

Iggy, how long are you there for?

Might be worth considering travelling by train to a game a bit further away. If so I'd go either Verona v Carpi on Sunday 16th at 2pm or Venezia v Benevento on Friday 14th at 8pm.

Rail time from Florence to Verona is about an hour and a half and to Venice is more like two hours.

With Verona you get Liam Henderson and the joy of Tim Parks book 'A Season with Verona' which is a great read. Verona itself is well worth a visit before the game if you go through early enough. Get down the front with your Hibs top on and see if Liam comes over to deliver his autograph :greengrin.

With Venezia it is a really unusual ground and a club that went from bankruptcy (again) about five years ago to nearly getting Serie A promotion last year. I've never been to the stadium but it's supposed to be unique and they have a small but pretty typically crazy support. The owner wants to move them to a new, bigger stadium if they get into Serie A so who knows how much longer the current ground will even exist? I think Filippo Inzaghi is still the manager. And a day out in Venice beforehand isn't life's worst experience...

Any of that work for you?

Verona definitely works and I hadn't spread the net that far. The train service looks pretty good. Haven't been to Venice in nearly 30 years but Hendo sounds a better bet regardless.
Thanks for this.

[Iggy Pope]

I wouldnt bother with Livorno....an absolute dump of a place

Surprised at this as it reads as an interesting port in the guides. It's going further down the picking order though.
Ta.

[Iggy Pope]

Couple of options.

If the Serie C fixtures get sorted then look at Lucca. Stunning wee walled town in Tuscany. Got a Serie C team called AS Lucchese Libertat 1905.

Technically not Tuscany, BUT easy enough to get the train to La Spezia to go and see ASD Spezia Calcio 2008 (Serie B?). The ground is only a few minutes walk from the central train station i think. Plus it is right next to the Cinque Terre national park which is stunning and worth a visit. .

Been on the Luchesse site as we will be heading to Lucca anyway, but I can't figure out the fixtures. Might be easier when we get there.
Noted about Spezia. Mrs Iggy is gonna love another holiday trawling around the games.

Love this site sometimes.

Ta.

[Greenbeard]

Verona definitely works and I hadn't spread the net that far. The train service looks pretty good. Haven't been to Venice in nearly 30 years but Hendo sounds a better bet regardless.
Thanks for this.
As someone already suggested, take this as holiday reading or read before you go.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Season-Verona-Tim-Parks/dp/0099422670/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536154216&sr=8-1&keywords=tim+parks+verona

[heid the baw]

Been on the Luchesse site as we will be heading to Lucca anyway, but I can't figure out the fixtures. Might be easier when we get there.
Noted about Spezia. Mrs Iggy is gonna love another holiday trawling around the games.

Love this site sometimes.

Ta.

Skip going to a game. Hire a car and take the missus to a wee town called Pienza. Tuscany at it's most glorious.

[Iggy Pope]

Skip going to a game. Hire a car and take the missus to a wee town called Pienza. Tuscany at it's most glorious.

I'll find the time for that. Ta, good man.

[JeMeSouviens]

That's the ground that you need to take a boat to isn't it?

Here it is on google maps - looks like you can cross by bridges from the main part of the city.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Stadium+Pier+Luigi+Penzo/@45.4263207,12.3702959,179a,35y,293.15h,72.75t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x477eae36033d5979:0x7d31a d2f6b84b917!8m2!3d45.4277801!4d12.364002

[angus hibby]

I’m going to Verona this weekend and was hoping to go to a game. Unfortunately it looks like their next game is 16th, which is day after I come home! I take it Serie B stops for internationals too?

[Iggy Pope]

Head up the leaning tower, you'll be able to see right into the pisa stadium.

This is very true and some setting for a ground. Serie C fixtures out today and they've given clubs one week notice, Pisa at home to Cuneo on Wednesday. There'd be ****ing uproar around our parts if the authorities tried that.
Gives me a game to go to though as Empoli tickets for Sunday v Lazio were ranging at 90 bloody euros a pop on their website.

[Springbank]

Skip going to a game. Hire a car and take the missus to a wee town called Pienza. Tuscany at it's most glorious.

Anywhere up in the Lunigiana region is a lovely wee day out too.

[Mibbes Aye]

Iggy, how long are you there for?

Might be worth considering travelling by train to a game a bit further away. If so I'd go either Verona v Carpi on Sunday 16th at 2pm or Venezia v Benevento on Friday 14th at 8pm.

Rail time from Florence to Verona is about an hour and a half and to Venice is more like two hours.

With Verona you get Liam Henderson and the joy of Tim Parks book 'A Season with Verona' which is a great read. Verona itself is well worth a visit before the game if you go through early enough. Get down the front with your Hibs top on and see if Liam comes over to deliver his autograph :greengrin.

With Venezia it is a really unusual ground and a club that went from bankruptcy (again) about five years ago to nearly getting Serie A promotion last year. I've never been to the stadium but it's supposed to be unique and they have a small but pretty typically crazy support. The owner wants to move them to a new, bigger stadium if they get into Serie A so who knows how much longer the current ground will even exist? I think Filippo Inzaghi is still the manager. And a day out in Venice beforehand isn't life's worst experience...

Any of that work for you?

Was meant to be in Verona at the end of July for the opera but Mrs Mibbes had an emergency appendectomy which scuppered things. We have rescheduled for next August and if Liam is still there and playing at home we will get there. Actually even if he’s playing away we will give it a shot, nothing like a bit of ground hopping.

Real question was how accessible is Ravenna from Verona? Wanted to visit there for a long time.

[Hibbyradge]

Nowt to do with fitba, but if you can, eat in Taverna de Emma and visit Lucca.

[hibsbollah]

Having a Tuscan holiday (Florence / Pisa).
Looking to take a game in but sadly Fiorentina are away. I see I can get to Empoli v Lazio though.
Livorno look like they kick off there only available game in Serie B at 10.30pm on a Monday night (????).
Can't seem to find a Serie C fixture list and talk of it being disbanded?

Any of you Italian-ites got any info on clubs around Tuscany or a good link to a website with info?

A Livorno night game should be a fantastic experience, I don't know why you'd be looking further afield really! . Proper club with ridiculous ultras. They're probably right up there with St Pauli as the most political club in world football, with very close links to the Italian Communist Party. The Ultras are 'brothers' with AEK Athens and Marseille, so it's very much that kind of vibe: firecrackers, pyrotechnics, guys on fences with loudspeakers, bare chests and marijuana smoke in the air.

Curva nord is 15 euro but those seats might be reserved for the ultra group members, that seems to happen quite a lot with some teams'websites and they don't make it clear why you can't purchase online.

https://www.livornocalcio.it/comunicati/i-biglietti-di-livorno-crotone.html

[Iggy Pope]

A Livorno night game should be a fantastic experience, I don't know why you'd be looking further afield really! . Proper club with ridiculous ultras. They're probably right up there with St Pauli as the most political club in world football, with very close links to the Italian Communist Party. The Ultras are 'brothers' with AEK Athens and Marseille, so it's very much that kind of vibe: firecrackers, pyrotechnics, guys on fences with loudspeakers, bare chests and marijuana smoke in the air.

Curva nord is 15 euro but those seats might be reserved for the ultra group members, that seems to happen quite a lot with some teams'websites and they don't make it clear why you can't purchase online.

https://www.livornocalcio.it/comunicati/i-biglietti-di-livorno-crotone.html

They're kicking off at 9pm Monday night. I'd struggle to get back to our digs. I've bookmarked it though.

[Iggy Pope]

Nowt to do with fitba, but if you can, eat in Taverna de Emma and visit Lucca.

In Lucca as I write D. Lovely.

[SirDavidsNapper]

Always been my ambition to take in a Sampdoria game. Really took to them in the early 90's watching Football Italia on C4! Still look out for their results (mostly poor). Definitely have more of an interest in them than any English team.

[Delboy4]

Drove around Tuscany the end of May...

Forget the footie for a week or so as it's a beautiful place. Eat, drink and be merry!

Some places to visit:
Follonica - great beach
Porto Santo Stefano - stunning
Montepulciano - ( get into the red vino ) ;-)


GGTTH
:greengrin

[hibsbollah]

Always been my ambition to take in a Sampdoria game. Really took to them in the early 90's watching Football Italia on C4! Still look out for their results (mostly poor). Definitely have more of an interest in them than any English team.

A good time to do it I would think. Samp have just humped Napoli 3-0 and Quagliarella is playing like Messi. I wish I could justify getting eleven sports but I'm still catching the highlights.

[SirDavidsNapper]

A good time to do it I would think. Samp have just humped Napoli 3-0 and Quagliarella is playing like Messi. I wish I could justify getting eleven sports but I'm still catching the highlights.

Autumn in Genoa sounds very appealing. Yeah i noticed that. Brilliant result! Consistently inconsistent as always.

[Iggy Pope]

Nowt to do with fitba, but if you can, eat in Taverna de Emma and visit Lucca.

So chuffed with yesterdays result Mrs Pope and I ate at the Taverna di Emma last night. Splendid and for being in the shadow of the tower, pretty reasonable.