Florence and the Fiorentina faithful have officially entered centenary week. A packed programme of events will unfold across the city through September 2, when the celebrations culminate at the Artemio Franchi stadium with a special match between Fiorentina All Stars, coached by former Viola manager Cesare Prandelli, and the Legends of Operazione Nostalgia, captained by Italian icon Francesco Totti and former Inter star Javier Zanetti.
A torchlight procession through Florence
The first major event will take place on Tuesday, August 25, when the Curva Fiesole organizes a torchlight procession through the historic centre. Fans will gather in piazza Santa Maria Novella from 7.30pm before setting off through the city. The route will pass via dei Banchi, via dei Rondinelli, piazza degli Antinori, via degli Agli, via dei Pecori, piazza San Giovanni, via dei Calzaiuoli and piazza della Signoria before continuing towards the Arno along via Vacchereccia and via Por Santa Maria. At that point, the procession will divide into two groups. One will continue along lungarno Acciaiuoli towards Ponte Santa Trinita, while the other will make its way through piazza del Pesce, lungarno Anna Maria Luisa dei Medici and piazza dei Giudici before stopping at Ponte alle Grazie.
The event will involve temporary traffic restrictions to the city centre. From 9 to 11.30pm, temporary road closures will be introduced to allow the procession to pass. Parking restrictions will also be introduced along lungarno Diaz from 10pm until 1am on Wednesday, August 26. From 11pm, further restrictions will affect Ponte Santa Trinita, Ponte alle Grazie, lungarno alle Grazie, parts of lungarno Serristori and lungarno Torrigiani as well as via Por Santa Maria. Additional traffic measures will be introduced in via dei Benci, lungarno Cellini and piazza dei Mozzi.
The Curva Fiesole has called on fans to fill the streets wearing Fiorentina shirts, from faded jerseys to the newest editions, bringing together generations of the Viola family. The supporters’ group has also asked residents and businesses to hang purple flags and banners from their windows ahead of the procession.
Party at the Franchi
On Saturday, August 29, after Fiorentina’s Serie A match against Frosinone, scheduled for 6.30pm, the stadium will be turned into a stage for the club’s official centenary celebration. Hundreds of former players, coaches and directors who helped shape Fiorentina’s history are expected to return to Florence for an evening of choreography, music, lights, archive images and surprises retracing a century of Viola history.
Baggio, Batistuta + Viola legends return
The centenary programme reaches its grand finale on Wednesday, September 2, when the Franchi hosts a unique legends match beginning at 8pm. A Fiorentina Legends side will face the Operazione Nostalgia All Stars in a celebration of football’s great characters and generations. Prandelli will take charge of the Fiorentina side, whose squad is packed with names that need little introduction. With the addition of Franck Ribéry, the list of former Viola stars has now been completed: Francesco Toldo, Sébastien Frey, Alessandro Mareggini, Dario Dainelli, Manuel Pasqual, Moreno Torricelli, Gianni Gobbi, Tomas Ujfalusi, Gonzalo Rodríguez, David Pizarro, Angelo Di Livio, Martin Jørgensen, Sandro Cois, Borja Valero, Bressan, Marco Donadel, Giuseppe Rossi, Adrian Mutu, Luca Toni, Giampaolo Pazzini, Francesco Flachi, Gabriel Batistuta, Roberto Baggio and Nuno Gomes. Around 15,000 spectators are expected, with ticket sales progressing well.
Centenary souvenirs
The anniversary is not confined to the stadium. Last week saw the official first day cover ceremony for a commemorative stamp marking Fiorentina’s 100th anniversary. During August, the Italian Mint also produced the official centenary commemorative coin, while a new book dedicated to the history of the Viola, published by Giunti, will be presented in September.
The celebrations will also include one of Tuscany’s highest honours. The Tuscany Region’s Pegaso d’Oro will be awarded to Fiorentina, with regional president Eugenio Giani highlighting the club’s importance to the region and recalling the role played in the creation of Florentia Viola following Fiorentina’s financial collapse in 2002.
More centenary celebrations will be announced on Fiorentina’s social media channels.
