Palace on Tour: Get to know the home of Fiorentina

Information

15 Apr 2026

Crystal Palace continue our maiden European adventure with a trip to Florence this week, taking on ACF Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi Stadium following a 3-0 win in the first leg in South London.

If you’re making the journey to Italy, you’re in luck. Visiting supporters will have a chance to experience a stadium with a unique history and an electrifying atmosphere.

Here’s our quickfire guide to the Artemio Franchi…

A stadium steeped in history

Officially opened in September 1931, the Artemio Franchi was only completely finished in 1932, hosting games at only the second-ever FIFA World Cup finals two years later.

Designed by architect Pier Luigi Nervi, famed for the Nervi Hall in the Vatican, Stadio Artemio Franchi stands as a significant representation of 20th-century architecture in the city.

Originally the stadium boasted a capacity of 47,282, although this has varied through the years.

Fiorentina’s home was also used as a venue when Italy hosted the World Cup finals for a second time in 1990 – one of only four stadiums to be used in both tournaments.

Information for fans attending

In total it has hosted seven World Cup fixtures, while also hosting football matches as part of the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.

Italy's rugby team also achieved their first-ever win over South Africa at this venue in 2016, with a 20-18 victory.

It has also hosted its’ fair share of music gigs. Down the years the likes of David Bowie, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen have all performed inside the Artemio Franchi.

The stadium is organised into four stands/sections: the Main Stand, the Maratona Stand, the Fiesole Stand, and the Curva Fiesole.

Fiorentina’s more enthusiastic supporters commonly occupy the Curva Fiesole, named for the nearby hilltop town of Fiesole.

Away supporters are housed in the Curva Ferrovia, also recognised as The Railway End due to its proximity to nearby train tracks.

Renovation works

Fiorentina are playing home matches with a reduced capacity this season, as ongoing redevelopment work at the Artemio Franchi continues.

With a current timeframe working towards completion for the end of the 2029/30 season, the renovation will see a new roof, improved sightlines for fans, and an improved Curva Fiesole (north stand).

The revamped stadium will hold around 40,000 spectators, with the new stands closer to the pitch and a rebuilt scoreboard, following the demolition of the old concrete one.

Due to the ongoing work, the current capacity is close to 22,000. Palace will have an allocation of around 1,200 for the second leg.

Location from the city

The stadium is around a 45-minute walk from the historic city centre of Florence, featuring the Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Maria del Fiore Duomo and Uffizi gallery.

Naturally this area has plenty of bars and restaurants for visiting fans to explore and mix with some of the 16 million tourists Florence receives annually.

A preferred spot for Fiorentina fans is the famous Bar Marisa, situated directly across the road from the main entrance of the stadium.

Here you’ll also find the club shop with a wide range of memorabilia and classic shirts, for those looking to pick up a souvenir on Palace’s European travels. Regular buses services are used by supporters both on matchdays and throughout the week.

But wherever you go, you won't be short of options pre and post-match in this incredible city!

Match Details

Fiorentina v Crystal Palace

Thursday, 16th April
20:00 BST
UEFA Conference League quarter-final, second leg
Artemio Franchi Stadium
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

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