Stadio Artemio Franchi: Guide for Visiting Fans

Florence is a walkable, transit-friendly city, and getting to the Franchi without a car is the right call. The nearest train station is Campo di Marte, around 400m from the ground. Local services from Santa Maria Novella (the main station) stop at Campo di Marte, while bus route 17 connects Florence's historic centre to the Franchi from Piazza San Marco. The cheapest way to get from Florence city centre to the stadium is the Line 17 bus, which costs around €1–2 and takes about 18 minutes. Services depart every 15 minutes and operate every day. Bus lines 10, 11, and 20 also serve the area.

A stroll from the centro storico takes approximately 30 minutes — do it at least once, because walking past the Duomo on your way to a Serie A match is an experience that doesn't get old.

Flying in? Florence's airport is officially known as Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR). It is located about 9 km from the center of Florence. The airport is serviced by Tramvia line T2, which gets you to Firenze Santa Maria Novella in about 20 minutes. From there, hop the train or Bus 17 to the stadium — total journey from FLR door to stadium gate is typically 45–55 minutes. Alternatively, there's a fixed taxi fare of €28 from the airport to the city centre (€30 on Sundays and holidays). From the city centre to the stadium by taxi takes around 4 minutes. If you're driving in from the autostrada, leave the A1 highway at "Firenze Sud" (coming both from Naples and Milan) and follow the signs for "Stadio."

Let's be blunt: driving to the Franchi is the least elegant choice in one of Europe's most elegant cities. Parking near the stadium can be limited on matchdays due to high demand. The street parking around Campo di Marte fills up fast for big fixtures, and the ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) covering much of the historic centre means a hire car becomes a liability almost immediately. There's no large dedicated stadium lot — you're circling residential streets.

If you must drive, arrive at least 90 minutes before kickoff. Blue-zone paid parking on Viale dei Mille and surrounding streets runs roughly €1–2/hour, and you'll find more availability the further you park along Viale Fanti or toward the Parco delle Cascine side. It's more difficult to find parking especially when big matches are planned, so take the train if you can. Honestly, that advice stands. Park-and-ride via Campo di Marte station is the move for drivers: leave the car near the ring road, grab a regional train to Campo di Marte, and walk the 400 metres in.

For most visitors, the Florence historic centre is the best base — walking distance to the Uffizi, Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, with a 25–30 minute walk or 5-minute train to the stadium. The area between Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza San Marco is sweet spot territory: you're in the thick of Florence's best restaurants and bars, the Bus 17 to the ground stops at Piazza San Marco, and hotels here run a wide range from €80 budget guesthouses to €250-a-night boutiques.

The Campo di Marte district is closer to the ground but quieter and lacks Florence's atmosphere outside matchdays — fine if you're purely here for the football, less ideal if you want to actually experience the city. Oltrarno is excellent for combining football with artisan workshops and nightlife — the south side of the Arno has a more local, less tourist-trampled feel. Budget B&Bs like Hostel 7 Santi and Florence Stadium B&B sit within 10 minutes of the ground, but the centro storico rewards anyone who can stretch the budget slightly.

Birreria Articolo 17 is a go-to pre-match pint stop, about 25 minutes from the stadium — craft beers, convivial Italian football atmosphere, and far enough from the ground that you won't be surrounded entirely by Viola ultras. Good call for away fans wanting a relaxed drink.

The Moonshine, just behind the Tribuna Coperta, is a regular meeting point for Fiorentina fans. It's close and buzzing, but this is neutral enough that away supporters don't need to feel unwelcome — just don't wear your club colours in when the Fiorentina faithful are three drinks deep before a derby-adjacent fixture.

The Green Store Pub is a bit closer to the ground and is a solid all-rounder — cold Peroni, standard bar food, tolerant of football tourists.

For actual food, venture further into the city. The trattorias around Piazza di Santo Spirito in Oltrarno serve the kind of ribollita and bistecca alla Fiorentina that make you question why you ever eat anywhere else. Budget €15–25 per person for a proper sit-down lunch before the game — Florence's lunch hour is non-negotiable, and you should embrace it.

Bags larger than A4 size (21cm × 30cm) are not permitted inside the stadium. This is enforced — leave the backpack at the hotel. A small crossbody or jacket pocket is your friend here. Security lines can back up, so factor extra time.

Doors typically open around 45 minutes before the event. For Serie A matches, aim to arrive 60–75 minutes ahead of kickoff regardless — security queues, bag checks, and the Franchi's older turnstile infrastructure mean things move slower than you'd expect. You'll need your passport when you buy tickets and to pass through security at the stadium.

Critically for away fans: Italian rules require nominative tickets with a matching photo ID. Buy directly from acffiorentina.com and bring the same ID you used at purchase — this is checked at the gate, not just suggested. Away fans are directed to the Settore Ospiti (away section), which has a separate entrance from home fans. Expect a police escort from Campo di Marte station to the away gate for higher-risk fixtures. Don't deviate from the designated route — Italian stewards and polizia take segregation seriously.

Important construction note: A phased modernisation is currently underway covering pitch, stands and accessibility. Expect sections to be closed, scaffolding visible, and some concourse access altered. Check acffiorentina.com for the current operational layout before your visit.

The Franchi is a heritage-listed 1931 concrete structure, which means accessibility has historically been one of its weaker points. The ongoing renovation specifically includes accessibility upgrades, but the fully renewed stadium is not expected to be completely accessible until the 2029–2030 season. In the interim, wheelchair spaces are available in designated areas near pitch level, primarily in the Tribuna Maratona sector. Accessible entrances are located at the Viale Manfredo Fanti side of the ground; contact Fiorentina's ticketing office in advance to arrange placement.

Elevator access is limited in the current construction phase — the stadium's iconic spiral ramps on the Tower of Marathon provide upper-tier access but are not wheelchair-suitable. Level access to lower-tier seating is feasible. For any specific requirements, the club's website lists a dedicated accessibility contact, and early communication (at least 48 hours before the match) is strongly recommended to ensure appropriate seating arrangements and staff assistance are in place.

The Franchi is made up of five separate sections — the Curva Ferrovia, Curva Fiesole, Tribuna Coperta, and Tribuna di Maratona, with the away end wedged in between the latter and the Curva Ferrovia. The Settore Ospiti (Ospiti section) is used by away fans and visiting supporters; in this section away fans can bring their banners and colours to support their team.

If you're not in the away section and want the best neutral experience, the Maratona Centrale sections (MAC and MAD) are right on the midfield line and not expensive except for big matches like Juventus. In general, both in the Tribuna Centrale and Tribuna Maratona, ticket prices are cheaper as you move toward the two curves. Avoid the upper tiers of the Curva Fiesole if you're neutral — that's the home ultras' territory and not where you want to be in away colours. The Tribuna Maratona lower gives you Nervi's extraordinary cantilevered roof overhead, one of the longest concrete cantilevers ever built, which is worth the slightly higher price tag even before a ball is kicked.

The Franchi is not a hostile venue in the way that Napoli's Diego Armando Maradona or Roma's Olimpico can be. Despite its lopsided nature, the Franchi was as intimidating an arena as any in Italy during the glory days of Batistuta and Rui Costa — but those days are mostly in the past. Today, Fiorentina's home support is passionate without being routinely menacing, and away fans who keep their heads down and don't go looking for confrontation have a fine time. The thing that catches first-timers off guard is the distance — the current gap between the Curva Fiesole and the pitch is enormous due to the D-shaped design, which oddly makes the Franchi feel both intimate (in the covered tribunes) and weirdly distant (in the curves). Don't sit in the Curva Fiesole or Ferrovia end in away colours for anything above a mid-table fixture; in the Maratona, you'll be largely unmolested. Italian police are present in force for flagged matches, and segregation is taken seriously — follow instructions and you'll be fine.

Train: The Campo di Marte regional train back to Santa Maria Novella is your best post-game option — the station is about an 8-minute walk from the stadium. After the final whistle, wait 10–15 minutes before heading out — the platform becomes a sardine tin the moment the gates open. Trains run until around 11:30 PM but frequency drops after the main post-match rush; expect a 15–20 minute wait on the platform. Strongly recommended over the bus.

Bus: Lines 17 and 11 will be packed. If you're going to use the bus, wait at least 20 minutes after full-time and walk one or two stops away from the immediate stadium cluster — you'll find less competition and the same bus.

Driving: Expect 30–45 minutes to get a moving road from street parking on big fixtures. The area around Viale Fanti and Viale dei Mille gridlocks immediately. The Firenze Sud exit back onto the A1 takes 20–30 minutes once you're moving. If you parked further out, you'll clear faster — this is the one scenario where distant parking pays off.

Rideshare: Uber and Bolt operate in Florence but availability post-match near the stadium is thin. Walk 10–15 minutes toward Piazza della Libertà or along Viale Matteotti before requesting — surge pricing drops quickly once you're away from the immediate stadium perimeter and your wait time halves.

Opinionated tip: Take the regional train, and get to the platform before the final whistle if your side is comfortably losing. You'll be on a train home while everyone else is still arguing about parking on Viale Fanti.

What's the easiest way to get to Stadio Artemio Franchi from central Florence?

The Line 17 bus is the cheapest option, costing €1–2 and taking about 18 minutes from the city centre. Alternatively, take a regional train from Santa Maria Novella to Firenze Campo di Marte, which is an 8-minute walk from the stadium.

What is the bag policy at Stadio Artemio Franchi?

Bags larger than A4 size (21cm × 30cm) are not permitted. Leave backpacks at the hotel. Small crossbody bags or jacket pockets work fine.

How far is Florence Airport (FLR) from the stadium?

Florence's airport is the Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR). It's about 9 km from the city centre. Allow 45–55 minutes total via the T2 tram to Santa Maria Novella and then a train or bus to the ground.

How much does parking cost near the stadium? There is no large dedicated matchday lot. Street parking in the blue-pay zones around Campo di Marte runs roughly €1–2/hour. Spaces disappear fast on big fixtures — arrive 90 minutes early or use park-and-ride via Campo di Marte station.

Where is the away section at Stadio Artemio Franchi?

The away end is wedged between the Tribuna di Maratona and the Curva Ferrovia. Italian rules require nominative tickets with a matching photo ID , so buy directly from the official site and bring your passport.

When do gates open?

Doors typically open around 45 minutes before the event. Arrive 60–75 minutes before kickoff to account for security queues and ID checks.

What's the stadium's current status with renovations?

A €265-million redevelopment began in March 2024 and is unfolding in two major phases. Full completion is planned for 2029, with Fiorentina expected to move into the fully rebuilt stadium from the 2029/2030 season onward. Expect scaffolding, reduced capacity in some sections, and altered concourse access through the current phase.

Do I need a photo ID to get in? Yes — you'll need your passport when you buy tickets and to pass through security at the stadium. The ticket is nominative (name-specific), and ID is checked at the gate. Don't forget it.