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Italians love their sports almost as much as their food. The one they hunger for the most? Calcio, the Italian word for kick, or what we would call soccer. When you go to Italy, we guarantee that you'll watch, play it, or at the very least, talk about it! Italian teams have some of the best players in the world. They are second only to Brazil for the number of World Cups won. So if you're into the game, you'll see some truly talented athletes strutting their stuff.
Even if your interest is marginal at best, attending a match is highly entertaining. The singing, chanting, shouting and general bedlam make a baseball game look pretty tame. Supporters are called tifosi, literally "typhus patients", because of their feverish dedication. This video can give you some idea of what to expect, but it's one of those experiences that a camera just can't capture. Also check out Kendra's blog entry – after a year with AFS in Sardegna, she finally went to see "what the madness was all about" towards the end of her stay. She wasn't disappointed!
You don't even need to go to a match to feel the passion. Emily, one of our featured Returnees, remembers watching the European Cup on a huge screen outside the Duomo (one of Milan's most famous landmarks): "The square, which is massive, was absolutely packed. It was insane. There were people jumping on the tops of trucks and buildings. The atmosphere was incredible!"
The country unites for matches like the Cup, played by Italy's national team, La Squadra Azzura, (meaning"The Blue Team", named for the uniforms as many teams are). Otherwise, you'll find that folks are fiercely loyal to their local soccer club. Thankfully violence is rare, but you might not be the most popular person in town if you wore the opposing team's colors to a game!
Besides soccer, another sport Italians have an appetite for is basketball. Known as pallacanestro, basketball caught on as soon as it was introduced in the 1890s. Its popularity took off after the arrival of American troops stationed in Europe during World War I. Currently, its professional league is ranked one of the best in Europe, alongside countries such as Greece and Spain.
Other popular sports include motor racing (this is the birthplace of Ferrari after all), cycling, tennis, golf, and various winter sports. To find out more about the sporting life, visit Life in Italy. If you care to bone up on your knowledge of Italian soccer teams before you go (and impress the heck out of your Italian mates), visit the official site for the Italian Soccer League. And as Riquel reminds us, Italians are not just spectators - get on out there and join them on the field, track, court, or mountaintop, and bring your appetite!
