La Curva Fiesole

La Curva Fiesole
Name	Curva Fiesole
Nickname	Curva Fiesole
Location	Florence, Tuscany, Italy
Stadium	Stadio Artemio Franchi
Capacity	~7,000
Tenants	ACF Fiorentina supporters

La Curva Fiesole is the principal northern terrace at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence, serving as the primary gathering place for the most vocal supporters of ACF Fiorentina. Established during the expansion of the stadium in the early 20th century, the stand has become synonymous with organized ultras, choreography, and political symbolism in Italian football. It occupies a central role in matches involving domestic competitions such as the Serie A and continental fixtures like the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

History

The terrace emerged in the context of interwar and postwar developments in Italian sport, contemporaneous with projects by architects from the Fascist Italy era and later renovations influenced by safety reforms after incidents such as the Heysel Stadium disaster and the Hillsborough disaster. Supporter groups associated with the stand formed during periods marked by rivalry with clubs like Juventus, AC Milan, Internazionale, and Roma. Key moments in its evolution involved confrontations tied to national events including protests linked to the Anni di piombo and alignments with political currents present in Italian society, intersecting with movements around figures like Silvio Berlusconi and debates in the Italian Parliament. The ultras’ organizational patterns mirrored trends seen in other European terraces such as North Stand (Old Trafford) and the southern curves of La Bombonera style supporters in Buenos Aires.

Location and Structure

Situated on the north side of the Stadio Artemio Franchi, the stand overlooks the pitch between the Tribuna Centrale and the Curva Sud. The stadium itself is a landmark designed by Pier Luigi Nervi and linked to municipal plans by the Comune di Firenze. Structurally, the terrace features steep terracing, railing segregation, and dedicated access points comparable to designs at the Allianz Arena and Stadio Olimpico. Facilities include flag storage, tifosi banners, and areas for coordinated pyrotechnic displays, echoing logistic arrangements used by supporters at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and Camp Nou. Renovations following UEFA safety directives adjusted capacity, sightlines, and stewarding zones to meet standards set by organizations like FIFA and the Italian Football Federation.

Supporter Culture and Traditions

Fans in the section organize chants, banners, and choreography that reference regional identity tied to Tuscany and civic symbols from Florence such as the Florin and imagery associated with the Medici family. The curatorship of matchday tifos draws inspiration from supporters at Boca Juniors, Borussia Dortmund, and Olympique de Marseille; groups align with named collectives that sometimes mirror structures used by organizations like Casapound and Ultras Sur in their methods of mobilization, though distinct in Florentine cultural context. Rituals before fixtures reference anniversaries of clubs like ACF Fiorentina founders and former players such as Giancarlo Antognoni and Gabriel Batistuta, and they adopt chants found across Serie A venues that echo through rivalries with S.S. Lazio and Napoli. The terrace has hosted political banners that intersect with debates around Italian nationalism and pan-European movements like No to War campaigns, drawing scrutiny from local authorities including the Prefecture of Florence.

Notable Matches and Incidents

High-profile matches at the terrace include clashes during derbies with Siena, decisive fixtures against Juventus and Inter Milan, and European nights against clubs such as Bayern Munich and Liverpool F.C.. Incidents have ranged from large-scale tifos praised in sports media like La Gazzetta dello Sport to disciplinary episodes addressed by bodies including UEFA and the Italian Football Federation following use of banned pyrotechnics or politically charged banners. Legal and administrative responses to episodes involved entities such as the Ministry of the Interior (Italy) and courts in Florence, leading to sanctions and stadium closures reminiscent of measures applied after incidents at venues like the Stadio San Paolo.

Security and Regulation

Security in the terrace is managed through coordination among the Questura di Firenze, stadium police units, private stewarding firms, and club security teams at ACF Fiorentina. Regulations derive from national statutes, UEFA protocol, and municipal ordinances, with enforced measures including ticketing controls, segregation orders, and CCTV similar to regimes at Old Trafford and San Siro. Enforcement actions have included temporary bans, matchday expulsions, and closure orders, often invoked under frameworks applied by the Italian Football Federation and directives promoted by UEFA to curb hooliganism and ensure spectator safety.

Influence on Fiorentina Identity

The terrace shapes public perception of ACF Fiorentina through visible displays that contribute to the club’s brand in domestic and international media outlets such as Sky Sport, ESPN, and BBC Sport. Its cultural output influences recruitment of players and staff who cite supporter atmosphere as a factor in transfers alongside clubs like Atlético Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. The passionate support exemplified in the stand has become embedded in civic rituals in Florence, influencing partnerships with municipal institutions, cultural festivals, and commemorations tied to local heritage sites like the Ponte Vecchio and Santa Maria del Fiore.

Category:ACF Fiorentina Category:Stadio Artemio Franchi Category:Football terraces in Italy