Florence Leisure

The Florentines are an active race and the city has a wide range of sporting options for visitors, most of which are outdoor-orientated such as golf, fishing, swimming and water sports. There are several lakes near to Florence and the mountains are also within an easy drive.

Football

The local football teams are celebrated with fervour here, especially the Serie A ‘Fiorentina’ side. If you want to see a Fiorentina match, games are played at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Viale Manfredo Fanti every other Sunday. Florence also has another team, Rondinella Impruneta.

Golf and tennis

Golf enthusiasts will find a couple of quality courses just outside Florence including the nine-hole Golf Club Montelupo at Fattoria di Fibbiana and the 18-hole Golf Club Ugolino on via Chiantigiana. Both offer fantastic views, although the latter is usually only open in the winter. Public tennis courts can be found at the Circolo Carraia on via Monti Alle as well as at Circolo di Tennis.

Rowing and fishing

Rowers should check out the Societa Canottieri Firenze, which has a clubhouse and landing stage near Ponte Vecchio bridge. Visitors can also contact the Canottieri Firenze Comunali at Lungarno Ferrucci for rowing on the Arno River. Visitors will need an annual permit to fish anywhere in Tuscany including on the River Arno. Permits are cheap and are available from the Federazione Italiana della Pesca Sportiva.

Other popular sports

An open-air swimming pool can be found in Cascine Park and there are other pools elsewhere in the city which are generally open from June to September. A great way to see Florence is by bicycle and there are several bicycle rental shops in and around the city; cycling around the Tuscan countryside is a delightful experience.