THE BERNABEU STADIUM REAL MADRID

Madrid may be crowded with churches, but the most popular modern shrine is this football stadium is the home of Real Madrid. Set on a broad boulevard, with its own Metro station, the 80,000-seat stadium hosted the 1982 World Cup Final. Founded in 1902, 'Real' became one of the most famous football clubs in the world. The name means Royal, and the club has proved to be a dynastic force in football, so much so that in 1998, FIFA, the world governing body, awarded them the accolade, 'the best club in the history of football'.

Even if you can't get to a game, you can experience the atmosphere by visiting the trophy room, right across from the Metro exit or, even better, by joining a guided tour. Visitors are shown a panoramic view of the inside of the stadium, the pitch and players' tunnel, the away dressing room and the trophy room. Crammed with dazzling silver trophies and resonating with screams of 'Gol!, Gal!, Golf',this is a football fan's paradise. Numerous video screens show clips from great matches of the past, including their nine European Cup triumphs between 1956 and 2002, as well as 17 Spanish Cups and 29 Spanish league championships Success is not limited to football: Real participates in many sports. Their basketball team, for example, has an equally glowing history.