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City Guides
There is more to Italy than just the football as we explain with the help of our City Guides – an essential read for all those fans hoping to take a game in the peninsula. |
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| Ascoli Piceno |
Ascoli |
| Ascoli Piceno is located between the Sybilline mountains and the Adriatic sea, in the southern part of the beautiful region of Marche. The number of visitors and second-home owners from the UK is growing quickly, but there is still much to be discovered. More |
| Bergamo |
Atalanta |
| From stunning views to 12th Century castles, Bergamo – the home of Atalanta – has plenty to offer. The town of Bergamo is divided in two - the città alta, the beautiful historic upper town, and città bassa, the more modern urban sprawl of the lower town. More |
| Bologna |
Bologna |
| A beautiful city approximately 85km north of Florence, Bologna has plenty of sights to see in the Emilia Romagna area of the country. It is also home to Bologna FC, who have won seven titles since they were formed in 1909. Only Juventus, Milan, Inter and Genoa have more. More |
| Brescia |
Brescia |
| Brescia, near Milan in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy, is often overlooked as just a smoky industrial sprawl. But whilst the area is home to a lot of Italy’s iron and steel production, Brescia has a charming centre full of history and character, dominated by a majestic hilltop castle. More |
| Cagliari |
Cagliari |
| Sardinia, as a whole, is unique. With Caribbean-style coasts of white sand, clear seas and its rocky inland wildernesses, comes the island’s main town - a really remarkable place. Its patchwork history - founded by Phoenicians, ruled by all and sundry, and its terrific location on the South coast of the island, have contributed to the fascinating character of the town. More |
| Empoli |
Empoli |
| 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. More |
| Florence |
Fiorentina |
| Florence is such a well-known holiday destination and with good reason. The city that was home to Dante Aligheri, Michelangelo and the powerful Medici family boasts a rich history and a wealth of artistic treasures second to none. And the surrounding Tuscan countryside is simply beautiful. More |
| Genoa |
Sampdoria & Genoa |
| The city of Genoa is bouncing back to its former splendour. Still a major international port, the delinquency and degradation of recent years are gradually being eradicated and, although the narrow alleys or caruggi near the port can be slightly worrying, the city - hometown of the great Christopher Columbus - has benefited from a definite facelift. More |
| Lecce |
Lecce |
| Lecce is famous for its local stone. Off-white in colour and with an unusually soft but resistant quality, it’s ideal for the intricate carvings that characterise the local baroque-style architecture. More |
| Livorno |
Livorno |
| Livorno - or Leghorn as it is officially known in English - is situated on a stretch of Tuscany's west coast known as the Etruscan Riviera, and has been an important port since the Middle Ages. Today it is probably best known in Italy as the place you go to get the ferry for Sardinia. More |
| Messina |
Messina |
| Messina’s strategic position on the straits separating Sicily from mainland Italy has guaranteed it a rich history. Thanks to its unusual sickle-shaped natural harbour, the town has also been a useful port since its beginnings as a Greek colony. More |
| Milan |
Milan & Inter |
| Although so far unsuccessful in its half-hearted bid to become the national capital, Milan is certainly the main city of Italy’s north and it’s home to a good part of the nation’s industry, creativity and general wealth, not to mention two of Europe’s top football teams – Milan and Inter. More |
| Modena |
Modena |
| Famous for giving the world Luciano Pavarotti and Ferraris, Modena glows with satisfaction now it has a decent football team. Along with neighbouring towns Bologna, Parma and Piacenza, Modena is doing its best to put the Emilia-Romagna region on the map of Italian football. More |
| Palermo |
Palermo |
| Palermo, Sicily’s regional capital, is a lively and colourful place with a rich cultural past that can be seen in the intriguing mixture of architectural styles. The Arab, Norman and Spanish influences show in the churches and castles, as well as in the vibrant, aromatic markets. The city has recently undergone a facelift and is looking better as a result. More |
| Parma |
Parma |
| The city of Parma has a proud history and of its many famous citizens Giuseppe Verdi is probably its favourite son. In fact, even the town's team - initially Verdi FC - were founded in memory of the illustrious composer in the centenary year of his birth - 1913. It was only in 1968 that the side finally adopted the name AC Parma. More |
| Perugia |
Perugia |
| Perugia, also known as ‘Italy’s green heart,’ is just one of the many beautiful medieval hilltop villages and towns scattered throughout the region of Umbria. As well as breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside it has a captivating centre of alleys and lanes and can claim to host the region’s premier football club. More |
| Reggio Calabria |
Reggina |
| Many visitors see Reggio Calabria simply as a port to Sicily. But the province at the toe of Italy - home to Reggina Calcio - is well worth exploring. The beautiful unspoilt beaches and interesting architecture provide a pleasant distraction from the football. More |
| Rome |
Roma & Lazio |
| Rome is undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest historical cities, with its monuments, museums, galleries and architectural pleasures stretching back almost 3000 years. There is perhaps no other city on the planet that offers such riches from the ruins of imperial Rome to the splendour of the Vatican. More |
| Siena |
Siena |
| Siena is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. With a medieval centre, it is renowned for the wild Palio horserace. The typically Tuscan characteristic of an enthusiastic and almost ferocious rivalry is surprisingly strong between the city districts, especially at Palio time. But what unites the Sienese is their love and support for AC Siena. More |
| Turin |
Juventus & Torino |
| Turin is spacious and accommodating enough to offer plenty to visitors. Situated on the banks of the Po and Dora rivers at the foot of the magnificent Alps, the city is just far enough away from general Italian thoroughfares to remain strangely calm, despite its dimensions. More |
| Treviso |
Treviso |
| Treviso is often referred to as a city of water, and you'll realise how fitting the title is when you wander along the banks of the River Sile or beside the town's various canals. More |
| Udine |
Udinese |
| Udine, in the Friuli part of Italy’s far North-eastern region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, displays a curious mix of elegant Venetian and solid Germanic influences. The asymmetrical town centre is laced with streams, locally known as rogge, and dotted with a large number of hostelries. More |
| Verona |
Verona |
| Verona has a lot more to it than romantic legends. This beautiful city in the Veneto region combines an exotic atmosphere reminiscent of nearby Venice, with the ancient allure of a Roman past very much evident. The city is also home to two clubs who have made a real name for themselves in recent history. More |
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