Stadio Olimpico Rome

Calcio (football) is not just a sport in Italy – it's a way of life. Romans take their team's success or failure personally. In Rome, sounds of joy or agony will filter out from the coffee shops when one of the city's two teams is playing. The red and gold of the Roma team or the blue and white of Lazio will be displayed in many windows during the season as well. If one of the teams makes it to the championship, streets, doors, cars and bodies will also become festooned in the team's colors. But for a live game, the place to go is the Stadio Olimpico, called the Foro Italico dei Gladiatori. Call 06/36-851 for information on games, but they are normally held on Sunday afternoons. The teams normally don't play during the summer, however. Tickets are available in a range of prices and seat quality and are usually available at the stadium for the two or three hours before the game starts. Public transportation is available to the stadium, but be sure to allow for plenty of time for the bus or metro and tram rides involved. Once you're in the stands, you will be surrounded by people making statements – not just for their teams but on political issues as well. If you're not sure how to cheer, just yell out the word 'forza,' the Italian word for 'go.'