Home to one of the best football teams in the world, Barcelona's Camp Nou is not only Europe's largest football stadium, but also a symbol of Catalan pride and culture. With a record 75 domestic trophies and 20 international trophies, FC Barcelona is much more than a collection of accolades; is also represents the soul of Barcelona and its people. Barça has always been considered a people's club. This is largely due to the fact that FC Barcelona is one of the few clubs that is owned by their supporters, who run and support the club with charity and enthusiasm, making it the fourth richest club in the world.
The club was founded on November 29, 1899, by Joan Gamper and a group of various footballers. The club has quickly grown to become a symbol of Catalonia. The club's motto "Més que un club" (More than a club) emphasises its deep connection with Catalan identity. Knowing the history of the club is indirectly knowing the history of Catalonia and Catalan culture.
The club is affectionately known as the Blaugrana for the blue and maroon colours of the Merchant Taylors School in England. The club has a history of embracing a global approach while respecting local traditions. In its early years it was part of the city's coat of arms which was replaced in 1910 by the city flag with its own logo. FC Barcelona's journey from its humble beginnings, marked by Joan Gamper’s newspaper advertisement, to becoming a global football giant is a testament to its resilience and cultural significance. The club's history is intertwined with the political and cultural landscape of Catalonia. Especially when Catalan was made the official language in 1917.
During Gamper's era, the club not only achieved significant victories, including three Copa del Rey titles and four consecutive Pyrenees Cups, but also built a new stadium through crowd-funding from over 20,000 supporters. Today, FC Barcelona stands as a beacon of Catalan pride, continuing to embody its founder’s values and spirit.
El Clásico: More than just a football war
El Clásico, the fierce rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, extends beyond football to a historical and cultural clash. Despite Spain's five main languages, Castilian (Spanish) and Catalan are the most dominant. Madrid represents Spanish nationalists, while Barcelona symbolises Catalan republicans. This rivalry, rooted in the Spanish Civil War of 1936, continues to this day.
FC Barcelona has always been a staunch supporter of Catalan identity and democracy. In 1925, then-prime minister Miguel Primo de Rivera accused Joan Gamper of spreading Catalanism. “It has to be remembered that during the Spanish Civil War, Camp Nou became one of the only places where people could openly speak Catalan,” says Gabriel Roca, a native and tour operator at Camp Nou stadium.
The animosity toward Real Madrid is so severe that the FCB Museum prominently displays times of Real Madrid's humiliation throughout face-offs. The contention intensified with the player rivalries, most considerably between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from 2009 to 2018.
El Clásico displays the political and social tensions among Catalans and Castilians. Over the years, the head-to-head report among the two clubs stands at a hundred wins for Madrid and 97 for Barcelona. Their first meeting was in 1902, with the first League El Clásico in 1929. A match in 1943 saw Real Madrid defeat FCB 11-1 in the Copa del Generalísimo semifinal - a game that football pundit Sid Lowe described as a symbol of the dictatorship's revival and Barcelona's victimisation.
To commemorate the club's 120th anniversary, FC Barcelona introduced the 2019-20 away kit, featuring the Senyera—the red and yellow Catalan flag—with the slogan "Ho portemdins" (It's deep within us). This kit honours the club's roots and records, reflecting its deep connection to Catalan identity. A duplicate of this kit is displayed at the FC Barcelona Museum.
How to get to the stadium:
The Camp Nou stadium is situated in Les Corts, a little far from the main city. One can reach there by metro or bus. It takes roughly 30-35 min from the centre.
• Metro lines: L3 and L5 (10 min walk from the station)
• Bus numbers: 47, 67, A2, B20, B25, H16 and L95
Museum passes:
There are many FCB stadium tour packages starting from:
• Basic tour priced at €39 (INR 3200) and students with valid ID €20 (INR 1650)
• All Inclusive (exclusive players changing room excluded)tour priced at €59 (INR 4845)
• Players experience tour priced at €139 (INR 11410) which includes a guided tour by a professional, meetings with ex-players and entry to exclusive players changing room.
• There is also a tour during match days priced at €99 (INR 8125) which includes the match ticket.
• It’s better to purchase the tickets online because of the queue.
