FC Barcelona is the first Catalonian club that springs to mind, but 56 miles north of the main football tourist attraction lies the charming city of Girona with its medieval castles and bridges. Girona FC is the local pride of some of the most passionate supporters in Catalonia.
Do not immediately drive south to Barcelona. Make sure to stop by Girona, just across the border of France, above Lloret de Mar. In the southeastern part of this picturesque city lies the small, but cosy Estadio Municipal de Montilivi, located next to the Montilivi hill. The main stand gives a false impression that it is a large ground. The Montilivi only has a capacity of 13,386 and is one of the smallest stadiums in La Liga. You can spot the arena through the tall grass from the top of the steep Carrer Universitat de Girona.
In Girona, you can taste the real Catalonian football atmosphere, which has largely disappeared in Barcelona’s Camp Nou given the fact that it is mainly filled with tourists. Jovent Girona, the official supporters’ group, gets the entire arena behind the team whilst singing songs and beating the drums. Take a seat in the upper tier on the southern side of the stadium and you will have a magnificent view of the city.
Even though Girona Futbol Club was already founded in 1930, the club has had its biggest successes in recent years. From 1930 to 1970, Girona played in Campo de Vista Alegre, near the city centre. Nowadays, it has become a park with a playground and there are no remains left of the former ground. The Gironistes were promoted to the Primera Division for the first time in its history in 2017. Before, it mainly yo-yoed between the Segunda Division and the regional leagues. In 2017, the club was bought by The City Group, so we assume they will not have to worry about playing regional league football anytime soon. After suffering relegation in 2019, the club returned to the highest tier in 2022.
The fans meet in the narrow streets of Plaça de Catalunya and the Carrer Nou when they have something to celebrate. After the promotions to La Liga in 2017 and 2022 the streets were filled with Gironistes who expressed their excitement with torches. The most memorable place however is the Plaça del V: A square in front of the city hall which has the size of half a football pitch. This is where the players were honoured for their achievements on the city hall’s balcony.
Girona is filled with good restaurants and bars where you can enjoy great food and refreshing drinks. On the Avinguda de Montilivi, you can find the ½ Kmi-bar, a popular hotspot among home and away fans. The bar is a nine-minute walk away from the stadium. Inside and outside you will see Catalonian flags with Girona’s logo on the wall. Another recommendation is the bar of the University of Girona. Not Michelin-star quality, but givens its close proximity to the stadium and the cheap prices it is a fantastic spot to surround yourself with Girona’s fans.
South of Girona lies the airport Girona-Costa Brava. You can take bus L8 from the city centre to Estadio Montilivi.
Tickets for a Girona match can be purchased on the club’s official website. Please note that the club only puts the tickets up for sale one or two weeks prior to kick-off. The ticket prices range from €25 to €70.
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