Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
recent years, while Roma has seen patchy success. Financial problems have beset both
clubs, forcing them to sell top players and rely on one or two star performers. A new
Roma stadium is currently being built at Tor di Valle, due to be completed in time for the
2016/17 season.
Lazio's fans traditionally come from the provincial towns outside Rome, while Roma's
supporters, known as
romanisti,
are historically working class, from Rome's Jewish com-
munity and from Trastevere, Testaccio and Garbatella. Both sets of supporters have an un-
fortunate controversial minority who have been known to cause trouble at matches.
From September to May there's a game at home for Roma or Lazio almost every week-
end and a trip to Rome's football stadium, the Stadio Olimpico, is an unforgettable experi-
ence. Note that ticket purchase regulations are far stricter than they used to be. Tickets
have to bear the holder's name and passport or ID number, and you must present a photo
ID at the turnstiles when entering the stadium. Two tickets are permitted per purchase for
Serie A, Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League games; if you want to buy more, you
can, but they will probably not be together. Tickets cost from around €20 to €150. You can
buy them from
www.ticketone.it
,
www.listicket.it
,
from ticket agencies or at one of the
A.S. Roma or Lazio stores around the city. To get to the stadium, take metro line A to Ot-
taviano-San Pietro and then bus 32.
A.S. ROMA VS LAZIO
The Rome derby is one of the football season's highest-profile games. The rivalry between Roma and Lazio is
fierce and little love is lost between the fans. If you go to the Stadio Olimpico, make sure you get it right -
Roma fans (in deep red with a natty orange /yellow trim) flock to the
Curva Sud
(South Stand), while Lazio
supporters (in light blue) stand in the
Curva Nord
(North Stand). If you want to sit on the fence, head to the
Tribuna Tevere or Tribuna Monte Mario.
For more details on the clubs, check out
www.asroma.it
and
www.sslazio.it
(both in Italian).
BASKETBALL
Basketball is a popular spectator sport in Rome, though it inspires nothing like the fervour
of football. Rome's team, Virtus Roma, plays throughout the winter months at the
Palalotto-
matica
(
EUR Palasport)
in EUR.
199 12 88 00; Viale dell' Umanesimo;
RUGBY UNION
Every time a Six Nations game is played in Rome, the city fills with a swell of foreign
spectators, easily discernible by their penchant for amusing hats and beer.
