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Empoli	Football Italia City Guide

Empoli is a small town about 20km west of Florence in the middle of the Tuscan countryside. Heavily bombed during the war, it had to rebuild itself but has managed to keep much of its historic heart. The town is virtually unknown as a tourist destination - even in Italy itself - largely due to being overshadowed by Florence.

Stadio: Carlo Castellani The stadium, inaugurated in 1965, is named after one of Empoli’s all-time stars. Carlo Castellini still holds the team record for most goals scored in a season. The striker’s tragic death at the Mauthausen concentration camp during World War II is remembered with a plaque at the entrance to the Tribuna section of the stadium. The fans are waiting for the new Curva Nord to be built to add to the current 19,847 capacity. Meanwhile they get a better pitch-side view in the Maratona section. The Stadio Castellani is easy to reach on foot from any part of town. From the railway station just keep going straight ahead for about 10 minutes, skirting the town centre.

Match Tickets Online ticket sales are available from TicketOne. There is a link from the team’s official website - www.empolifc.com - or go straight to www.ticketone.it TicketOne also has several outlets around town. A convenient one is at the tobacconist run by friendly Empoli supporters, the Angolo del fumatore, in Via del Giglio 85. It is closed between 1pm-4pm and on Sundays. Match day ticket sales are available from the booths outside the stadium. N.B. The only covered part is the Tribuna. While the Curva Nord is waiting to be built the Empoli fans are in the Maratona, opposite the Tribuna. Visiting supporters get the Curva Sud. Football Italia Ticket Info

Out & About > The main square, Piazza Farinata degli Uberti is known locally as Piazza dei Leoni, perhaps just to confuse visitors, but more likely due to the affection felt for the four stone lions guarding the square’s fountain. The Collegiata di Sant’Andrea church is Empoli’s main feature. It dominates the square and with its striped exterior is reminiscent of other Tuscan churches such as Florence cathedral. > Piazza della Vittoria is Empoli’s other square of note. Its huge proportions and the floodlit Victory statue are brazenly fascist in style. At No 16 you can visit the birthplace of the well-known early 20th Century pianist and composer Ferruccio Busoni. The Chiesa della Madonna del Pozzo opposite is a curious little octagonal church. > Wander round the small town centre circuit of Via del Giglio, Via Giuseppe del Papa and Via Ridolfi. There are plenty of good shops, particularly shoe shops. Pop into the Chiesa Santo Stefano just off Via Giuseppe del Papa to see the frescoes. > Spend a day in Florence. It takes less than half an hour to get there by train and you can see a good number of famous places in one day. When it’s time to head back to Empoli you’ll be grateful to be leaving the throngs of tourists behind you. > Take a bus - about 20 minutes - to Vinci and visit the Museo Leonardiano dedicated to the artworks and inventions of the great Leonardo da Vinci. You can also visit his birthplace. Some good walking trails start from the village. > Valdelsa, the area surrounding Empoli, is well worth exploring for its beautiful countryside, picturesque villages and numerous vineyards, many offering wine tasting. If you plan to do this, your best bet is to hire a car directly from the airport. Most major car hire firms are present. See the airport sites - www.pisa-airport.com or Florence www.safnet.it

Food & Drink The Tuscany region is famous for its hearty meat dishes, such as the Bistecca alla Fiorentina -chunky steaks - or Spezzatino di Cinghiale - wild boar stew - as well as its interesting ways with stale bread. Try the Ribollita, which is a kind of bread and bean stew, or Panzanella, a salad of tomatoes, onions and moistened breadcrumbs. Empoli itself was once famous for its artichokes - carciofi - and even though not so many are grown here these days, you can still find them cooked in all sorts of ways. When it comes to dessert, go for the Cantuccini con vin santo, crunchy almond biscuits to be dipped into the heavy sweet wine. Being Tuscany, you’ll find a good choice of Chianti wherever you go.

Restaurants > Osteria L’Canto Ghibellino. Piazza Uberti 6 (Tel: 0039-0571-78866). Friendly, cosy and typically Tuscan. Situated in the main square. > Cucina Sant’Andrea. Via Salvagnoli 47 (Tel: 0039-0571-73657). The best of Tuscany in food and wine. Try the wild boar - cinghiale - or pigeon - piccione. > La Panzanella. Via dei Cappuccini 10 (Tel: 0039-0571-922182). Another good one for traditional local fare. Behind the train station. Closed Sundays. > Ristorante Pizzeria L’Archetto. Via Ridolfi 36 (Tel: 0039-0571-73342). Centrally placed and good for a pizza. > Cafè de l'Acadèmia. Via del Gelsomino, 28 (Tel: 0039-0571-72185). Despite its name this is a restaurant. Closed Sundays. > Caffè degli Uberti. Piazza Uberti 21. This one is a bar and ideal for an early evening aperitivo. Right opposite the church. > Pasticceria Vezzosi. Via del Giglio 8. Old cake shop and tearoom - established in 1941 - that swarms with hungry Empolesi in the afternoons. Cosy seating upstairs. Wonderful cakes.

Accomodation > Hotel Tazza d’Oro (Via G del Papa 46, Tel: 0039-0571-7212 Fax: 0571-77370). Definitely the best choice if you’re staying in Empoli. Comfortable and very central, near the tourist office and the Church of Santo Stefano. Right opposite the entrance is a handy piece of wood stuck to the wall measuring exactly a metre, put there to resolve disputes. > Il Sole (Piazza Don Minzoni 18, Tel: 0039-0571-73779 Fax 0571-79871). This little hotel is just opposite the station. Ideal if you’re hoping for a quick getaway. > Hotel Vittoria (Via J. Carrucci 105, Tel & Fax: 0039-0571-73201). A few minutes out of the centre, on the stadium side of town.

Getting there... Fly to Pisa airport with Ryanair from Stansted (www.ryanair.com) or with British Airways from Gatwick (www.britishairways.com). There’s a handy direct train linking Pisa airport to Empoli that takes about 40 minutes. More details at the airport site www.pisa-airport.com Alternatively get a flight to Florence. Meridiana flies there from Gatwick (www.meridiana.it). From the airport, a regular bus takes you to Florence Santa Maria Novella railway station in about 20 minutes. Taxis are even quicker and cost 10-12 Euros. From the station catch a train to Empoli - about 30 minutes. Online train timetables at www.fs-on-line.com

Local lingo Mi dia una Hoha-Hola - Would you give me a Coca-Cola. Pronounced the local way, with a throaty ‘H’ replacing the ‘C’. Forza Azzurri – Come on you Blues. Empoli share their nickname with the national team. Ben cotta non al sangue, per favore - Well done not rare, please. Say this when ordering your Fiorentina steak. Easily inverted according to taste.

Compiled by: Sarah Lane Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third party sites