Estádio Do Dragão (Porto Stadium)

Estádio do Dragão is the home ground of FC Porto, one of the two or three biggest clubs in Portuguese football, and a visit gives a view of how the sport is woven into the identity of the city. The stadium was built for the 2004 European Championship and opened in 2003, replacing the club's old ground at the Antas. The architect was Manuel Salgado, and the result is a long, low bowl with a sweeping roof, open at the ends, holding about 50,000 spectators. The dragon of the name comes from the club's crest, which carries a dragon above the city's coat of arms.

The stadium stands in the east of Porto, beside the Metro station that bears its name, so it is easy to reach from the city centre without a car. It is part of a sports complex with an arena and training facilities, and on match days the surrounding streets fill with fans in blue and white. FC Porto was founded in 1893, and its honours include two European Cups, in 1987 and 2004, as well as several UEFA Cup and Europa League titles. The 2004 Champions League win under José Mourinho is still a point of pride, and the club's rivalry with Benfica and Sporting is a major element of Portuguese sporting life.

Visitors to the stadium normally take a guided tour, which can include the dressing rooms, the players' tunnel, the touchline and the press areas, giving a sense of what the place feels like before a game. The FC Porto Museum in the same complex tells the story of the club through trophies, shirts, photographs, and audiovisual displays, and it is organised so that even visitors who know little about football can follow the history. Tour and museum times vary, and on match days the programme is restricted, so check the club's current arrangements and book ahead if you can.

The best way to feel the stadium is to attend a game. Tickets for league matches are usually easier to find than for big European nights, and the atmosphere, with drums, songs, and a packed home end, is memorable even for casual spectators. Matches are often in the evening, so plan the return by Metro in advance.

It suits football fans, families with children who like sport, and architecture enthusiasts interested in modern stadium design.