Barca, the colloquial name for Fútbol Club Barcelona or F.C. Barcelona, is known and respected throughout the world as one of its premier teams, and is one of only three never to have been relegated from the Spanish La Liga. It is one of the most famous football teams in Europe, second in Spain only to Real Madrid. In fact, according to the official statistics it was the most successful team worldwide between the years of 1991 and 2014.
The club plays out of the Camp Nou stadium (Nou Camp to foreigners), in Avinguda Aristides Maillol, s/n, 08028, Barcelona. It is only 13 Km from the El Prat Airport, and the 5 mile journey from the city center can be taken using the metro (Line 5 from Collblanc or Badal and Line 3 from Les Corts or Maria Cristina). You can also get there by bus, using lines 7, 15, 43, 67, 68, 74, 75, L12, L50, L60 & L62. The official name of the stadium is the Nou Estadi del Fútbol Club Barcelona.
Originally, the first permanent pitch for the club was at Les Corts, but it soon became apparent that the success of the club and its increasing following would necessitate a new stadium. There followed a period of argument and discussion as to its new site, which was eventually whittled down to two realistic choices: a site near the top of the Diagonal that was in the process of redevelopment or a site the club had purchased in 1950 at a place known as La Maternidad. Ultimately, La Maternidad was chosen and construction took three years, from 1954 – 1957.
Barcelona F.C. is a very rich team in comparison to others in Spain and even in Europe, regularly competing in the Champion’s League that is open only to the top European teams. It owns its own newspaper and magazine, and also runs a TV channel and radio station.
If you have ever dreamed of running down the tunnel and onto a world-class football pitch, you can do that here at the Nou Camp. It is brilliant for visitors and football fans, no matter what football team or country you support. The museum is world class and the tours are unbeatable and unmissable. You are shown round the dressing rooms, the press box, the president’s area and also the pitch. All you need now is a ball and thousands of fans screaming for you to score! The atmosphere is intense, and you would be doing what every supporter of this great team dreams of doing.
When you visit the museum you can look at all the trophies won by the club, and loads of photographs showing its history and its great players over the years. How about the club’s top scorer, Carlos Rodriguez, with 235 goals in 350 games played between 1941 and 1955. Or the amazing 548 appearances of Migueli between 1973 and 1989. Enjoy learning about the great modern players, such as the Argentineans Maradonna and Lionel Messi, the Brazilians Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Deco (now Portuguese), and the Dutchman Johann Cruyff, all Barcelona players at one time – and Messi still is. The club boasts most FIFA World Player Awards with seven.
The museum has grown significantly since it opened in 1984, and boasts 1.2 million visitors each year. You don’t get better than that for a football museum! Little wonder it is classed as the best in the world! It does a lot more than simply show exhibits and photographs: it offers a wonderful audio and visual display of the social and cultural aspects of this great football club and provides a marvelous insight into its history and what makes a modern football club tick.
It offers guided tours, but you are not obliged to take them. You can opt for an audio tour instead that offers you a personal commentary of the salient features of the club. It is available in seven languages including English, Dutch, German, Italian and French, and of course Catalan and Spanish. It is well worth taking one of these – the guided tour or at least the audio commentary.
Tickets are available from the clubs ticket office. To get there head through Gates 7 or 9 and then make for the Boulevard Ticket Office. Tickets at the moment are €27 for adults and €24 for 9 – 13 year-olds, with 5 year-olds and under free. The tickets are for the tour of the club and include admission to the museum.
Opening times for the museum are 1000 to 1830 daily, except Sundays and Bank Holidays when closing time is 1400. On match days the museum is open as normal but the tour is closed until 1500. Advance booking is not necessary, although if you prefer you can book by emailing [email protected] or you can call (+34) 93496 36 08. You can also book tickets through the football club’s website.
It is also important to get your accommodation booked well in advance, and there are many beautiful Barcelona apartments available to rent in the city during the tourist season.
For more hotels in Barcelona click the link below
https://www.etraveltrips.com/eTravelTrips/hotels_list_details.php?image=6983