Few Italian terraces combine neighbourhood identity, political symbolism and internal diversity as visibly as Perugia’s Curva Nord. For more than five decades, the organised supporters of the Grifo have followed the club through Serie A, financial collapse, amateur football and repeated changes of ownership. Their history is not simply that of a left-wing curve, nor can it be reduced to one group or banner.
Armata Rossa and Ingrifati gave the Perugia ultras scene its most recognisable political character, while Brigata Ultrà represented a contrasting right-wing and territorial identity for more than 30 years. Nucleo XX Giugno later introduced another generation rooted in the history of the city. Together, these groups made the Curva Nord one of the most unusual and complex organised supporter scenes in Italian football.
From Santa Giuliana to the Curva Nord
Before the Renato Curi Stadium existed, Perugia played at Santa Giuliana, an intimate ground close to the historic centre. The older supporters who remember that period are still represented by the name Quelli del Santa Giuliana. They are not simply another ultras group, but a link to the years before organised terrace culture took its modern form.
Perugia moved to the newly built Comunale di Pian di Massiano in October 1975. The stadium originally had a distinctive U-shaped layout because only the Curva Nord had been constructed; the opposite curved end was added in 1979. This made the Nord the natural home of Perugia’s most active supporters from the beginning. The ground was renamed in 1977 in memory of Renato Curi, the Perugia player who died after collapsing during a league match against Juventus. Over time, the stadium and the Curva Nord became inseparable from the identity of the club. Even when Perugia disappeared as a company, the stadium remained the physical reference point around which the supporter community rebuilt itself.
The First Perugia Ultras Groups
The first organised groups appeared during the early 1970s. Ultras Perugia were among the pioneers, followed by Venceremos and Fossa dei Grifoni. Their names reflected an era in which Italian terraces were changing from traditional supporter clubs into more autonomous, youthful and confrontational movements.
The decisive development came in 1978 with the formation of Armata Rossa. The group emerged from meetings among supporters in Perugia’s historic centre, close to Bar Turreno, which was an important gathering place for followers of the Grifo. Its name, meaning “Red Army”, openly expressed the political outlook of many of its founders. Armata Rossa adopted the red star as its defining symbol and became the main reference point in the Curva Nord. Its identity reflected the wider political atmosphere of 1970s Perugia, particularly among politically active students and young people. Communist imagery, raised fists and references to revolutionary movements became highly visible features of the terrace.
One of the central figures in this story was Domenico “Mimmo” Pucciarini, a founder of Armata Rossa and a leading presence in the Curva Nord for more than four decades. Pucciarini was respected not only as an ultras leader but also as someone capable of connecting the terrace with the wider city. Following his death on 1 January 2024, Perugia’s organised groups successfully supported the co-naming of the Curva Nord in his honour. The stand now carries the names of Pucciarini and former Perugia president Spartaco Ghini. The designation Curva Nord Ghini–Pucciarini recognises two different figures whose lives became closely connected to the club and its stadium. For the ultras, Pucciarini’s name ensures that the origins of their movement remain physically present at the Curi.
Paolo Sollier and the Raised Fist
The political image of Perugia’s support was already developing before the foundation of Armata Rossa. Paolo Sollier, who played for the club between 1974 and 1976, became one of the most unconventional figures in Italian football. A committed left-wing activist, he regularly greeted Perugia supporters from the pitch with a raised fist. Sollier’s gesture was not a marketing device or a celebration invented for football. It was an open declaration of political identity during a period of intense social conflict in Italy. He was involved with Avanguardia Operaia and later described his experiences in the 1976 book Calci e sputi e colpi di testa.
His raised fist made him popular with a section of Perugia’s support while provoking hostility in politically opposed stadiums. During a particularly tense match away to Lazio in 1976, Sollier chose not to perform the salute because he feared retaliation against the visiting Perugia supporters. The episode helped give the rivalry with Lazio a political dimension that extended beyond results on the pitch. Sollier did not create the Perugia ultras movement, but he became an important symbol of the environment from which Armata Rossa would soon emerge. The image of a Perugia player openly expressing the same political ideals visible on the terrace strengthened the connection between the team, the city and its radical supporter culture.
The Formation of Ingrifati
Ingrifati were founded in 1989 and drew much of their original membership from San Sisto, a district on the outskirts of Perugia. Like Armata Rossa, they developed a strong left-wing identity, but they also established their own independent style, symbols and organisational structure. The group became one of the most active forces in the Curva Nord. Communication and counter-information were important elements of their activity. Their fanzine Profondo Rosso, first published during the late 1990s, provided space for reports, political commentary, travel accounts and discussion of the ultras movement. At a time before social media transformed supporter communication, publications of this kind were essential to the culture of Italian curves.
Ingrifati also became known for activities away from matchdays. Their long-running memorial, I nostri freghi per sempre, brings together remembrance, music, supporter culture and solidarity projects. Over the years, the group has also participated in anti-racist campaigns, fundraising initiatives and other forms of local activism. This social dimension is important because the history of Perugia’s ultras cannot be understood through choreography and rivalry alone. For Armata Rossa and Ingrifati, supporting the Grifo often formed part of a broader political and community identity. Their conception of the curve extended beyond the 90 minutes of a football match.
Brigata Ultrà and the Other Side of the Curva
Perugia’s Curva Nord was never politically uniform. During the 1980s and 1990s, groups with right-wing identities appeared, particularly in districts on the north-western edge of the city. The most important was Brigata Ultrà , officially founded on 24 September 1994.
Brigata was created through the merger of Brigaden from Elce and Doddy Boys from Ponte d’Oddi. Its identity was closely tied to Elce, Ponte d’Oddi, San Marco and the surrounding neighbourhoods. Although its political position contrasted with that of Armata Rossa and Ingrifati, Brigata should not be understood only as their ideological opposite; local territory and neighbourhood loyalty were equally important parts of the group’s identity. The group produced its own fanzine between 1994 and 2008, using it to communicate its view of football, the city, the Italian national team and the ultras movement. Its imagery, flags and travel culture made it easily distinguishable inside the Curva Nord. Brigata eventually became one of the stand’s principal organised groups.
Political differences produced tensions, particularly during the early years of coexistence. Nevertheless, the different factions gradually found ways to occupy the same terrace while retaining separate banners and identities. That coexistence was never simple, but it demonstrated that allegiance to Perugia could sometimes take priority over political division. After 31 years, Brigata Ultrà announced its dissolution in January 2025. Its disappearance was one of the most significant changes in the recent history of the Curva Nord. Any current account that continues to list Brigata as an active group is therefore outdated.
Nucleo XX Giugno and a New Generation
Nucleo XX Giugno was established in 2013 and has since become one of the principal active groups in the Curva Nord. Its name is directly connected to Perugia’s civic history. On 20 June 1859, residents resisted the papal forces sent to suppress the city’s revolt, while the same date in 1944 marked the liberation of Perugia from Nazi occupation.
The name therefore links football support with local memory, resistance and civic identity. It is an example of how Perugia’s ultras frequently draw their symbolism from the city rather than relying solely on imported terrace imagery. Nucleo XX Giugno subsequently developed a close working relationship with Armata Rossa and Ingrifati. Together, these three groups have signed joint statements, organised gatherings and represented the main organised voice of the Curva Nord in recent years. Their cooperation has continued beyond the end of the previous attempt to unite the entire terrace under a single banner.
Ostinatamente A.C. Perugia
During the 2017–18 season, Armata Rossa, Ingrifati and Brigata Ultrà launched a common project under the name Ostinatamente A.C. Perugia. Individual banners were removed or given less prominence, while the phrase appeared across the front of the Curva Nord. The objective was to rebuild participation and place the club above internal divisions. The project did not mean that the groups had dissolved. Each maintained its own organisation, symbols and political identity, but matchday support was coordinated through a common front. For several seasons, Ostinatamente represented a rare attempt to unite groups with sharply different backgrounds.
Disagreements eventually brought the experiment to an end during the 2023–24 season. Armata Rossa, Ingrifati and Nucleo XX Giugno continued to cooperate, while Brigata became increasingly separate before dissolving in January 2025. Ostinatamente remains an important chapter in the history of the terrace, but it should not be presented as the current organisational structure of the Curva Nord. Today, the main active banners are Armata Rossa, Ingrifati and Nucleo XX Giugno. Quelli del Santa Giuliana and the network of traditional Perugia clubs remain part of the wider supporter community, but their nature differs from that of the ultras groups. This distinction is essential when describing the current fan scene accurately.
Politics, Anti-Racism and Social Engagement
Perugia is widely regarded as one of the historic strongholds of left-wing organised support in Italy. Red stars, Che Guevara imagery, communist references and anti-fascist messages have all appeared in the Curva Nord. However, describing every Perugia supporter as communist would ignore decades of internal diversity and the long presence of Brigata Ultrà . The curve’s political reputation was reinforced through campaigns against racism. One of the best-known carried the slogan Una città antirazzista è sempre di Serie A — “An anti-racist city is always in Serie A”. In 2000, Armata Rossa and Ingrifati also issued an appeal encouraging other Italian curves to organise a coordinated anti-racist day.
The groups have supported fundraising, humanitarian projects and local associations, including initiatives for visually impaired people. Ingrifati’s memorial gatherings continue to combine remembrance with solidarity and social activity. These campaigns show why politics in the Curva Nord cannot be understood only through flags and slogans. A complete account should not romanticise the scene. Perugia’s ultras history has also included clashes, stadium bans, internal disputes and confrontations with the authorities. Social engagement and conflict are not mutually exclusive; both form part of the contradictions found throughout the Italian ultras movement.
Supporting Perugia Through Financial Collapse
The organised supporters remained a constant presence during the most unstable period in the club’s modern history. The original A.C. Perugia collapsed in 2005, while its successor also failed in 2010. A new club was then required to restart in Serie D.
For supporters who had watched Perugia compete at the highest level, travelling to amateur grounds could have produced detachment and apathy. Instead, the lower divisions reinforced the belief that the club belonged to its community rather than to any individual owner. The colours and the Grifo continued even when the company behind them disappeared. That experience helps explain why the Curva Nord regularly adopts a critical attitude towards ownership and club management. Its groups have organised protests, public meetings and statements demanding clarity from those responsible for Perugia. During renewed takeover speculation in July 2026, a Curva Nord banner again demanded respect for the Grifo and its people.
The Derby of Umbria
The greatest rivalry is with Ternana. Although commonly called the Derby of Umbria, it is not a city derby but a confrontation between the region’s two provincial capitals. The fixture has developed into the central expression of football rivalry in Umbria. The division reflects more than club colours. Perugia is traditionally associated with regional administration, universities, tourism and the hilltop culture of northern Umbria. Terni developed as an industrial centre shaped by steel production and a strong working-class identity.
Both sides claim to represent Umbria, while each considers the other culturally different from the rest of the region. Choreographies, dialect, regional pride and mockery of the opposing city are therefore as important as the result. For Perugia supporters, no other fixture carries the same emotional pressure. Even this rivalry has occasionally produced moments of mutual respect. During the 2016 derby at the Curi, a Perugia supporter suffered a fatal medical emergency. After the Curva Nord removed its banners, the Ternana ultras did the same, showing that the unwritten codes of terrace culture could temporarily take precedence over hostility. Matches against Gubbio and Foligno are also Umbrian derbies, but neither rivalry approaches the importance of Ternana. The gap is not merely a question of how often the teams meet; it is rooted in the long competition between the region’s two principal cities.
Rivalries Beyond Umbria
Arezzo is among Perugia’s most important rivals outside the region. Their meetings are known as the Derby of Etruria, a reference to the Etruscan history shared by the two cities. The rivalry became particularly intense from the 1970s and combines territorial competition with repeated encounters in the lower divisions. Relations with Lazio acquired a strong political edge during the 1970s, with Paolo Sollier’s raised-fist salute becoming a visible point of confrontation. Verona is another rivalry commonly associated with opposing political identities. In both cases, terrace ideology added meaning to encounters that were not based on geographical proximity.
Salernitana presents a different story. The two supporter bases were once close, but the relationship broke down during the 1993–94 Coppa Italia Serie C semi-final following a controversial match at the Arechi Stadium. Competition for promotion in the 1995–96 season then transformed the former friendship into a lasting rivalry. Hostility with Torino developed after Perugia won the 1998 promotion play-off on penalties in Reggio Emilia. Relations with Fiorentina deteriorated following the 2004 interdivisional play-off that sent Perugia down and returned the Viola to Serie A. Sambenedettese, Siena, Ancona, Atalanta and Sampdoria also belong to the broader map of Perugia rivalries, although their intensity has varied across generations.
Friendships and Former Twinnings
Friendships between ultras should be described carefully because they can belong to individual groups rather than an entire curve. They also change after dissolutions, generational shifts and disagreements. Presenting every historic contact as an active alliance creates a misleading picture. Empoli is one of the most consistently documented friendships, particularly through the Ingrifati. Friendly contacts have also been reported with supporters or groups from Genoa, Pisa and Juve Stabia. The nature and strength of these relationships have not always been identical across every section of the Curva Nord.
Armata Rossa and Ingrifati have maintained group-level affinities with Montevarchi and Fasano. During the 1990s, Ingrifati also had a notable relationship with the Mods of Teramo, strengthened by their shared hostility towards Ternana. These are important connections, but they should not automatically be described as formal curve-wide twinnings. The relationship with Ischia, established when the clubs competed together in Serie C1 during the early 1990s, was historically described as Perugia’s clearest formal twinning. Later accounts reported that this relationship had broken down. It is therefore more accurate to treat Ischia as an important former alliance rather than an undisputed current one.
The Curva Nord Today
The contemporary Perugia ultras scene is more concentrated than it was during the 1990s and early 2000s. Armata Rossa, Ingrifati and Nucleo XX Giugno form its main organised structure, while older supporters, independent followers and traditional fan clubs complete the wider community. The dissolution of Brigata Ultrà changed the internal balance but did not end organised support in the Nord.
The death of Mimmo Pucciarini and the co-naming of the stand strengthened the curve’s connection to its own history. His name now overlooks the place in which generations of supporters learned the rituals of flags, banners, away travel and collective singing. It also serves as a reminder that the identity of a terrace is carried by people as much as by group names. The Renato Curi is undergoing a phased renovation that includes major work on the Curva Nord and the construction of a roof. Subscribers may face temporary relocation while the work is completed, but the symbolic home of Perugia’s organised support will remain unchanged. The stadium may evolve, yet the Nord will continue to represent the city’s most independent football voice.
Why the Perugia Ultras Scene Matters
Perugia does not have the numbers of Italy’s largest cities, but the importance of its ultras movement has never depended on size alone. Its character comes from continuity, political expression, neighbourhood organisation and the ability to survive divisions, dissolutions and two club failures.
Armata Rossa introduced the red star and an openly political identity. Ingrifati expanded the culture of fanzines, social activity and independent communication. Brigata Ultrà represented a different political and territorial tradition for 31 years, while Nucleo XX Giugno connected a new generation of supporters to Perugia’s civic history. The result is a curve that cannot be explained through simple labels. It is left-wing but historically plural, capable of unity but marked by disagreement, socially active yet part of a confrontational ultras culture. From Santa Giuliana to the Curva Nord Ghini–Pucciarini, Perugia’s organised support remains one of the most distinctive chapters in Italian terrace history.