Stadio Lungobisenzio

It was not built for football. The yellow seats are uniform in colour, but the tiers are uneven; the covered stand is set further back than the open terraces, giving the pitch a slight slope that players must adjust to.

The site sits close to the river, which dictates the weather on match days. In 2011 Harlequins visited for a rugby fixture and had nothing to do all evening, but the conditions were no less real. The running track that once surrounded the pitch was removed in 2003, leaving the grass edge dangerously close to the fencing. A blue metal structure in the foreground blocks part of the view, a reminder that the stadium is tucked into a residential quarter where space is at a premium.

The capacity was reduced in stages, not by a single decision. Wooden stands gave way to concrete after the war, then the 1990s saw the side terraces demolished. The last major change came when the pitch was shifted and the old concrete removed, bringing the total below three thousand. The flag on the tower flies a tricolour that is often lowered to half-mast on days of mourning, a gesture that stands out against the grey sky. The ground has hosted concerts and rugby matches, but it remains a place where local supporters keep their heads. A sell-out crowd is rare now, though the record from 1977 still stands. The surface is natural grass, which holds up well in the mild climate, though the rain can soak it through quickly when the wind comes off the hills.