Wednesday night’s soccer match between Fiorentina and Roma ended with a tie score of 2-2. Although a Fiorentina victory would have put the team in first place, I would not be surprised if it caused bloodshed between the two competitors. The intense passion I was surrounded by at my very first Fiorentina match was highly contagious. Submerged in a sea of purple, I found myself jumping when the crowd jumped and yelling when the crowd yelled.
The same people you might find calm and collected strolling the Ponte Vecchio are the same people you might find chanting, screaming and pouring their purple hearts onto the soccer field. Even the pouring rain did not phase the players or the fans, but instead seemed to fuel their energy.
While in Florence, you must make a point to attend at least one of these matches. I guaruntee you will experience a side of Italian culture much different from that of the Ponte Vecchio and Uffizi Gallery.
[Lindsay Straub]

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