Tour of Porto's soccer stadium (Dragão Stadium)
The Dragon Stadium and the innovative Porto Museum
When you think of the vibrant city of Porto in Portugal, images of stunning architecture, vibrant and vibrant culture and world-renowned wine probably come to mind, but few know that the city of Porto boasts a wonderful football heritage which is currently led by FC Porto, the second most decorated football club in the country. The Dargao Stadium, located in the pastoral city, will take you on an exciting journey in the spirit of culture and passion for the world of football in the beloved country.
A mixture of history and architectural excellence:
Some call the Dargao Stadium "a jewel in Porto's crown", as the city of Porto is without a doubt a masterpiece composed of spectacular jewels, which together make it a pastoral and spectacularly beautiful city. The Dragao Stadium is recognized for its unique design, its rich history and its tremendous contribution to Portugal's football heritage.
The Estádio do Dragão, "Dragon Stadium", serves as the home ground of FC Porto. He got his name from the symbol of the Porto team, a dragon symbol. The state-of-the-art stadium was built in 2004 to host that year's European Football Championship, and it replaced Porto's previous stadium, Estádio das Antas, which was an outdated stadium and had been used by the team since 1952.
The stadium was inaugurated in a friendly match between the Porto team and the Barcelona team, and of course, Porto won the game and marked a worthy beginning to the history of the modern stadium.
The person who designed the innovative stadium was the Portuguese architect Manuel Salgado, who wanted to build an innovative stadium that combines aesthetics and innovation alongside the energetic spirit of football. The design of the stadium reflects the cultural heritage of the city of Porto, alongside an innovative and magnificent building, among other things built of colorful ceramic tiles, popular in the Portuguese construction culture.
The spectacular stadium has over 50,000 seats, and is considered innovative in its design, with seating around the field and curved bleachers that enhance the viewing experience of the spectators.
Porto football team:
The walls of the impressive stadium are worth nothing without the football club that calls this magnificent hall home. The Porto football team, Futebol Clube do Porto, is considered one of the most successful football clubs in Portugal, a magnificent club that attracts millions of fans in the second largest city in Portugal, the city of Porto.
The club was founded in 1893 by António Nicolau de Almeida, a successful wine merchant. The team gained a lot of popularity from the moment it was founded, and over the years rose to the Premier League, the top league of Portuguese football. In the senior league, the club won several titles that made it one of the most successful clubs in the history of the league. The team also reached titles in the Portuguese Cup and the Portuguese Super Cup tournament, which gave it the status of a successful and beloved team.
Porto was also successful in the international arena, when they won several times in the UEFA Champions League, the leading club competition in Europe. Their first victory in the competition, in 1987, led to spectacular celebrations all over the country that are remembered by every Portuguese to this day.
Over the years, many prominent figures have been linked to FC Porto, the most famous probably being Jose Mourinho, known as "The Special One", who managed the club from 2002 to 2004 and led it to unprecedented European success.
A number of great players have worn the blue shirts of FC Porto during their career, including Ricardo Carvalho and Radamel Falcao, who scored 17 goals in the 2010-2011 season in the Porto team's uniform as part of their Europa League matches.
Today, the Porto football club is considered one of the most successful in the country, and continues to compete in the European arena at a high level. The club is known for its passionate fans who never miss a single game of their favorite team. The club's mascot, a mythical dragon called 'Dragão Azul' (Blue Dragon), serves as a symbol of the club's fighting spirit and the passion of the fans.
Independent tour of the Dargao Stadium and the team museum:
One of the wonderful ways to dive into the world of football in Portugal is to visit the Dragao Stadium and the Porto Group Museum. The entrance ticket gives you access to the behind the scenes of the stadium, the spaces that cannot be visited on game days, and offers an opportunity to experience the stadium from the point of view of the team's players and coaches.
The entrance ticket gives you access to the field, where you can get a close-up view of the places where the team's coaching staff sits during games and, of course, get a wonderful view of the huge field.
In addition, you will be able to get a glimpse into the players' tunnel, the dressing rooms and the press rooms, which will reveal to you the world of preparations before the game and the stages that take place after the game is over.
The highlight of the visit to the stadium is probably a visit In the FC Porto Museum (FC Porto Museum), An innovative museum celebrating the rich history of the successful Porto Group.
The museum, which opened to the public in 2013, presents the club's glorious past in spectacular and innovative displays.
The museum contains a wide variety of exhibits, including an impressive trophy collection that includes the Portuguese Premier League trophies and the UEFA Champions League trophies.
The unique museum contains advanced innovative technology that will leave you speechless. A variety of displays include interactive screens and multimedia presentations that will reveal to you the historical moments of the team - the iconic games, the legendary players and the high and low moments of the club.
One of the highlights of the museum is the space "Tunnel of Time", an exhibition showing the development of the club from the day it was founded in 1893 to the present day, focusing on the important events and the club's successes along the way.
In the club you will also find fascinating themed exhibitions, for example the "Sala do Futuro" exhibition, the room of the future, which presents the club's vision and future aspirations.
Another fascinating exhibit is the 'Cadeira de Sonho' (Dream Chair), a chair brought to the innovative stadium from the team's previous stadium, and it represents the dreams and aspirations of Porto fans, and shows the strong connection between the club's past and its future.
The FC Porto Museum will take you on a fascinating and inspiring journey where you will discover the story of one of the most famous football clubs in the country, through innovative and interactive exhibitions that will make you fall in love with the iconic team.
Tickets for football matches of Porto or Benfica issued in Portugal?
important information:
- Most tickets are combined tickets that include a visit to the stadium and the Porto Group Museum. You can buy a ticket for the group museum only.
- The tour is an independent tour, the duration depends on you but usually takes between one and a half to two hours.
- You can purchase an audio guide for an additional fee in the English/Spanish language, which will accompany your visit to the stadium and the museum and provide you with fascinating explanations.
- Children under 4 enter free
- It is not possible to enter the stadium tour on match days, so it is recommended to keep up to date on the stadium's official website.
.: Porto Stadium, Estádio do Dragão is located in the city of Porto, in the northeastern part.
Stadium address: Via Futebol Clube do Porto, 4350-415 Porto.
The convenient way to get to the stadium from the city of Porto is by metro line, to the metro station of the stadium named "Estádio do Dragão. The journey from the city center takes about 15 minutes.
It is recommended to order tickets in advance!
Museum opening hours: Tuesdays - Sundays between 10:00 and 19:00. Mondays between 14:30 and 19:00.
In conclusion, the Dragon Stadium of the Porto football team will take you to a great experience between the walls of a magnificent stadium and a fascinating innovative museum. If you are a football fan, sporty at heart, a traveling family or curious who want to discover new things, do not hesitate and come to explore the Dragao Stadium in the magical city of Porto.
