Football trip
Lazio Roma

Lazio shares the Stadio Olimpico (or Rome Olympic Stadium) with AS Roma. The stadium was built in 1927 by order of the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. It was named Stadio del Cipressi and opened in 1932.

In 1936, Mussolini was deeply impressed by the Olympic Games in Berlin. The Games were to come to Rome in 1940 and astonish the world with the supremacy of the Italian state. The stadium was rebuilt and expanded and renamed Stadio Olimpico. However, the whole plan came to nothing: the outbreak of war meant that the Games were never held. The stadium was even severely damaged during the war years. In 1953, it was renovated, and afterwards, both S.S. Lazio and AS Roma moved to the stadium for their league matches.

In 1960, Rome was awarded the Olympic Games after all, and the name of the stadium was permanently changed to Stadio Olimpico. During the 1968 and 1980 European Championships, various matches were played in the stadium, including the finals. At the 1990 World Cup, West Germany became world champions in the stadium after defeating Argentina 1-0.

How to Reach the Stadio Olimpico

The Rome Olympic Stadium is about six kilometres from the centre, with excellent public transport links. From the Vatican, it is about a 30–45-minute walk.

By Metro

The underground system of Rome has three lines: A, B and C. The underground system is not nearly as extensive as that of, say, London or Paris. The problem is that in expanding it, one keeps coming across archaeological finds, which constantly delays the excavation work. A fourth line has been planned for years. Still, a combination of metro and bus/tram is the best way to get to the Stadio Olimpico. There are various possibilities to reach the stadium:

• Take Metro A (the red line) and get off at the Ottaviano-San Piedro stop.

Then take bus 32 and get off at the Piazzale della Farnesini stop. From there, it is a 100-metre walk to the stadium.

• Take Metro A (red line) and get off at Flaminio. Take tram 2 and get off at Piazza Mancini, across the Tiber from the Olympic Stadium.
• Take Metro A (red line) and get off at Lepanto stop (between Ottaviano-San Pietro and Flaminio). Then take bus 280 to the stadium.
• If you are on Metro B (blue line), get off at Termini. Change there to line A (red line).

Map of the Stadium

The sides of the stadium are:

• Tribuna Monte Mario. This is the main grandstand, with around 14,000 of the most expensive seats. You can also choose between ‘Centrale’ and the ‘Lato Nord’ and ‘Lato Sud’. The last two are a bit cheaper.
• Tribuna Tevere. The best view of the pitch is offered by this grandstand. You have the Tribuna Tevere (cheaper) and Monte Mario (more expensive tickets). Near the centre line, you have a good view of the whole stadium.
• Curva Nord. The seats behind the goal on the north side of the stadium. Exactly behind the goal are the most fanatic fans. There are seats in this section, but everyone is standing and waving flags. Those who remain seated see little of the match. In the sections left and right of the Curva Nord, you have the sections Nord Est (Northeast) and Nord Ovest (Northwest). These sections also have a great atmosphere and are a bit more relaxed than the Curva Nord itself.
• Curva Sud. The stand behind the goal on the south side. During AS Roma’s home matches, the Curva Sud is populated by fanatical fans. On both sides of the Curva Sud, you will find the Ovest and Est sections. At Lazio matches, the opposing fans stand in the Curva Sud Ovest.

Al Grottino del Laziale

At Vila Romania 27, about ten minutes from Villa Borghese, lies this typical Lazio pub.

The owner is a fanatical I Bianceceolesti fan who has hung the walls with the history of his favourite club. It is also a very characteristic little Roman restaurant with an excellent cuisine. According to many visitors, it offers the best pasta in Rome. It can be reached on foot from the centre of the city. Buses 52, 63 and 360 stop right outside the door.

L’Osteria di Birra del Borgo Roma

About a kilometre north of Vatican City, near Ottaviano metro station, is this famous restaurant and brewery, where many Lazio fans come to eat before the match.

But it is not only the tifosi who love this place. People come from far and wide for the much-prized home-brewed beers. The waitresses are happy to let you taste some of the beers and explain the ingredients and the brewing process. The dishes are also of very high quality; the pizza, for example, has won several awards. You’ll find the restaurant at Via Silla 26; opening hours are daily (except Mondays) from 18.00 to 01.00 (on weekends also from 12.00 to 15.00).

Excalibur Pub

The Excalibur Pub (Piazza Vescovio 4) is located in the Trieste district, about five kilometres north of the city centre. It is a Scottish-style pub, but run by a real Lazio family and very popular with fanatical supporters. The walls are hung with scarves, banners and shirts, mostly from Lazio and friendly clubs like Inter and West Ham. At the entrance, there is a mural of Gabriele Sandri, a Lazio fan who died from a police bullet, and where flowers are still laid.

The kitchen offers typical pub food, such as homemade burgers, tapas or sauerkraut with sausage. There is a wide choice of beers and live football can be enjoyed on several screens. Excalibur is open Monday to Friday from 12.30 to 02.00 and on Saturday from 18.00 to 02.00. From Libia metro station (Line B), it is a ten-minute walk. Buses 63, 310 and 351 stop nearby, in Piazza Vescovio.

The logo of Lazio

Lazio’s logo consists of an eagle with a white shield and blue border in its talons. The eagle is the traditional symbol of the club. It stands for power, victory and prosperity. In addition, the bird of prey represents Zeus, the Greek god of the sky and thunder. The animal earned Lazio the nicknames ‘le Aquile’ and ‘Anquilotti’ (the Eagles). Just like Vitesse and Benfica, Lazio’s mascot, the eagle Olimpia, flies around the Olympic Stadium before every match.

In the shield below the name, we find the name of the club, with a smaller three-part shield underneath with the blue and white club colours.

Colosseum

If you are a fan of old stadiums, you should not miss the Colosseum. This arena, chosen in 2007 as one of the seven new wonders of the world, was built in the first century AD. At the time, it was a unique stadium, which even had a ‘retractable roof’. It took more than a thousand men to pull an enormous awning over the stadium to protect the 50,000 spectators from the sun. Visitors could watch the most bizarre spectacles: warriors fighting each other or all sorts of wild animals, and prisoners being fed to the wild animals as an intermission number. All this to the great amusement of the public. Fortunately, such spectacles no longer take place, but you can still visit the Colosseum from the inside. It is open daily from March to September from 9.30 a.m. to 7.15 p.m. In the winter months, the ticket booth closes at 4.30pm. A ticket costs €16, is valid for 24 hours and gives access to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. It is highly recommended to book in advance on the Coliseum’s website (parcocolosseo.it/) as the queues at the ticket office can be very long. The site also offers guided tours and special evening events.

Vaticano

In the heart of Rome lies the dwarf state of Vatican City. It is an independent state, the spiritual centre of the Catholic Church and the residence of the Pope. In the centre is the famous Saint Peter’s Basilica. The sanctuary is free to visit and is open from 07:00 to 19:00. Be sure to come early as the queues can get quite long here too.

The absolute highlight is I Musei Vaticani: a collection of 26 museums in the Vatican’s palaces, with an enormous collection of art treasures. See ancient Roman and Egyptian treasures and works of art by Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci. The biggest crowd-puller is, of course, the Sistine Chapel. In this room, the cardinals come together when a new pope is elected. The ceiling was painted in the 15^th century by Michelangelo with ‘The Last Judgement’. The number of visitors per hour is limited, so booking in advance is recommended. The cheapest ticket costs €17, which gives access to all museums. For an additional fee, you can book an audio guide or a guided tour.

Trastevere

Besides all the culture, Rome also has plenty of photogenic, authentic neighbourhoods. Trastevere, about two kilometres from the centre, is a prime example of such an untouched Italian district. The medieval houses are separated by a maze of narrow streets. Turn a corner, and you will find an attractive square, an old church or a beautiful fountain. Due to its popularity, Trastevere also has many great artisan shops and restaurants. Especially in the evening, when both locals and tourists come here to stroll. From the centre, bus 75 will take you there in 15 minutes.

Shopping

Rome is also the place to be if you want to buy a nice souvenir.

You will find both luxury shopping streets and atmospheric markets.

In the shopping streets Via Condotti, Via Borgognona and Via Frattina, you will find the exclusive shops of the Italian top brands. They are not cheap, but you can also just marvel at the windows. Get off at metro station Spagna.

For the ordinary purse, there is also plenty to find. Via del Corso is the best-known shopping street in Rome. It is over one and a half kilometres long and offers a more varied selection.

A lesser-known shopping street for tourists is Via Cola di Rienzo, close to the Vatican City and accessible by bus 81. Here, you will find a wide range of affordable clothing and accessories, as well as renowned bookstores and ice-cream parlours. And don’t forget the Roman markets. The most famous market square is Campo de Fiori, near the Pantheon. In this fresh market you will also find many bakeries, restaurants and wine bars around the square.