Tour of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Photo #1 of 1 It is the stadium of a great football team, the Real Madrid F.C. and it opens its doors to its fans on a daily basis, with the aim of showing them the corners and scenario in which their idols have played out so many great triumphs. The Tour of the Bernabeu also tells the history of the century football club, and allows visitors to be level with the playing field as well as to enjoy all the other angles that are offered by as many seats, including those of the players themselves. Photo copyright Wikia, Inc.

Tour del Bernabéu: Recorrido por el estadio del fútbol del Real Madrid

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Overview

Back when the original field at Chamartín was becoming a little snug, the then president of the Real Madrid F.C., Santiago Bernabéu had the idea of building a new home for his club, and making it one of the best stadiums in Europe. And so the new stadium was erected and inaugurated on November 14, 1947, with a match against the Portuguese team Os Belenenses. Although it was initially called Nuevo Chamartín, it was renamed Santiago Bernabéu in 1955 in honour of the club's president.

This Tour, as envisioned by the Club itself, gets off to a steep start at the highest part of the stadium, which is reached using one among its several panoramic elevators. Not only does a breathtaking view of the field open out before us: the size of the surroundings is also overwhelming. Although the seats are naturally empty during this tour, the visitor can imagine the emotion that has so often filled the bleachers in this stadium city of 80,000 seats. Not for nothing has it been the scenario of major sports events, such as the European Cup Finals in 1957 or the game in which Italy was crown World Champion in 1982. Other events have come here as well, such as the youth meeting with the Pope in 1982 and various concerts by music stars.


VIP Boxes and Changing Rooms

After walking through the bleachers that are taken by storm by hordes of Madridistas on game days, the tour takes a break in the royal part of the stadium: the presidential chair and its balcony. For a moment, the visitors can enjoy the same luxury that is enjoyed by celebrities and special guests, as well as try out the leather chairs occupied by Florentino Perez, the club's president, along with other VIPs, politicians, heads of state, players and actors. It is without doubt a considerable privilege that is usually the reserve of VIPs. The on-screen replay of famous plays and polemical matches also add to the overall experience.

Ever since it was moved back in 2003, this section leads directly to the changing room area, which tempts the most avid fans with an open curiosity and is visitable, courtesy of the club. Although the home team changing room is off limits, visitors can walk around the visiting team's facilities, identical to the Real Madrid's. Allowed to explore every corner, one may see the blackboard on which the club's rivals devise their game strategy in order to vanquish the RM. They can also visit the showers, jacuzzi swimming pool in which the players from all-time rival teams such as the Barça and the fearsome Milan team repair to in order to recuperate from the sports matches.

Afterwards, the tour takes us to the changing room tunnel which has seen the comings and goings of Alfredo Di Stéfano, the Honorary President of the club, as well as Paco Gente, the only player to have played in six European Cups, or in more recent years, team captains such as Hugo Sánchez, Butragueño or Raúl. The teams that are about to face off share the ultimate, tension filled pre-game moments in this enclose area in the tunnel, and altohugh there is a metal barrier separating both sides, some players such as Juanito and Camacho would act out in full view of their rivals in this very place.


Player Benches and Playing Field

Winding up, the tour takes the same path that is walked each Sunday by the team players. This time around the visitors will be able to enjoy both the home team and visiting team's benches, which face each other across the 106x70 meter green of the field. Down on the playing field, and from the same perspective as the players, one can easily imagine what the rival teams might feel as they tread the Bernabeu grass, while the fans lurch into the 'welcome' songs or "stage fright", as defined by Jorge Valdano.

The technical area in the field includes designers' benches which are equipped with 22 seats each, both ergonomic and featuring a heating system. For the occasion, fans get to try out the comforts available to soccer stars, as visitors can sit on them and take pictures as well as admiring the grass - stepping on it, however, is a privilege only the players have.


Trophy Room
After circumventing a big chunk of the field, in the warm up strip, the visitors will arrive at the Trophy Room. Here a large part of the club's history and its tantamount victories can be inspected. The large number of trophies on display bears witness to the brilliant record of this team: 31 League Cups, 9 European Cups and 3 Intercontinental Cups, the European Super Cup of 2002 as well as the FIFA titles which have been bestowed on the Real Madrid in 2000, granting it the title of Best 20th Century team.

Furthermore, a spectacular mural is there to recall the players so worthy as to have worn the jersey of this first rate team, going back to the club's creation in 1902. The current team has a special place here, given that they are represented life-size so that every football buff passing through can take a shot of himself in their company, as if he or she were among these titans. There are also a series of signs, both in Spanish and English, which accompany the visitor throughout the visit, recounting the history and anecdotes which are part of the club's greatness.

This part of the tour exhibits two special areas devoted to the European Cup and the Championship League – after all, the Real Madrid is the top winner of this trophy, having won it 9 times. The trophies are all in a row, and there are additionally three screens showing the best plays from the European finals in which the team came out on top.

The equally feted basketball section of the Real Madrid is also displayed here. The actual team has its own space here, with some of its most important victories throughout its long history – 8 times over European Champion, with a special area set apart as a memorial for Fernando Martín, the emblematic player of the basketball selection, who died prematurely in 1989, and the first Spaniard to have played in the NBA.

The tour's path will finally take us to the Real Madrid Area, the official shop of the club, where one may purchase all manner of souvenir of the team, be it a ball point pen or a Torero's cape printed with the club's shield, the latter being among the favourite gift items.