Built in 1923, Estadio de la Ceramica (previously El Madrigal) has turned into a legendary battlefield hosting Villarreal CF. The stadium depicts the club’s glorious history and is home of 25,000 of its dedicated supporters.

Key facts

Address Carrer Blasco Ibáñez, 2, Villareal, Castelló, Spain
Postcode 12540
Capacity 24,890 seats
Club Villarreal CF
Build Date 1923
Architect Villarreal CF & Juan Antonio Villasant
Average Attendance 17,000
Record Attendance 24,450 (Villarreal v Barcelona, 2016)
Stadium Cost
Roof Covers the majority of the seats
Who is the owner of Estadio de la Ceramica? Villarreal CF
Pitch Size 105 m by 65 m
Where is Estadio de la Ceramica? 39°56’36.3″N 0°06’14.0″W
Nickname Feudo Amarillo
Surface Cutting Edge Pitch Technology

Seating plan

Estadio de la Ceramica seating plan

The stadium was opened on June 17, 1923, by a match between the Cervantes and Castellón. At the opening, it was called Campo del Villarreal. Two years later the stadium was named El Madrigal, and the current name Estadio de la Ceramica (El Madrigal) was awarded to the stadium after the reconstruction of 2017.

The first modernisation of the stadium took place in 1952. The field sizes were changed from 95 × 65 to 105 × 65 to meet the standards. In 1988, the stadium was reconstructed again. It gained its present appearance and opened with a match between Villarreal and Atletico Madrid.

Another reconstruction was completed by the 75th anniversary of the club. The VIP-box was installed at the southern platform. Some works also were completed at the north. Currently, there is a statue of a yellow submarine near the stadium. It honours Villarreal’s nickname.

The stadium has a rectangular shape. It consists of four sectors with different categories of seats:

  1. Tribuna (Carrer Blasco Ibáñez) – is the southern tribune of the stadium and the smallest one in size. The best seats with an excellent overview of the field are located there.
  2. Preferencia (Carrer Almassora) – is the north side of the stadium. Moderately priced seats can be found there. In many cases, they are fine for comfort viewing of the match.
  3. Fondo Sur (Plaza del Llaurador) – is located behind the eastern gates of the stadium. You can watch the match for a modest fee there.
  4. Fondo Norte (Carrer Molí Bisbal) – is the largest tribune at the stadium. It is located behind the net of the western goals. Currently, it features the cheapest tickets.

The area with a ceramic coating appeared near the ground after the last reconstruction. This square offers a fantastic view of the stadium’s new facade. The ventilation and evacuation systems, as well as the other safety measures, have been significantly improved lately.

Tickets

tickets

If you want to purchase tickets for a match of Villarreal FC or Spain national team at Estadio de la Ceramica, you can use Ticket Compare service. It is the fastest and the most reliable way to buy the tickets without any hustles. Choose the desired match, select the seats and securely pay online. It’s very simple!

Of course, you can also purchase tickets in other ways:

  • At Estadio de la Cerámica ticket offices – 90 minutes before kick-off on a matchday;
  • Via telephone: (+34) 964 500 250;
  • At Villarreal CF official shop;
  • Via email tiendaoficial@villarrealcf.es.

The prices for tickets vary depending on the tournament and the teams participating in the match. On average, you can expect the following ticket prices:

  • Tribuna – from £35 to £98;
  • Preferencia – from £22 to £63;
  • Fondo Sur – from £17 to £54;
  • Fondo Norte – from £13 to £54.

Hotels near

hotel

Villareal has quite a lot of interesting buildings popular among tourists. We both know you love to watch a good football match, but during the trip, you can also fall in love with this city’s amazing sights. Just make sure to take care of your accommodations in advance, especially since Villareal is not a big city. I’ve collected some excellent hotel options, and you can check them below:

Cheapest offers

  1. Pension Miami – is a small cosy hotel located in Almazor at a distance of 2 miles from the stadium. The distance to the railway station is 600 meters. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Each room has a TV and a bathroom with a shower. Prices for a single room start from £25.
  2. Hostal Restaurante La Masía – is an excellent hotel literally a 5-minute walk from the centre of Villarreal. The hotel has a bar and a restaurant where you can taste the local cuisine. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, TVs and free Wi-Fi. The room for one can be rented for £31.
  3. Hotel Jendri – this hotel provides simple but comfortable rooms. It is located in Almazor, an 8-minute drive to Castellón de la Plana. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning and TVs. Some of them have a terrace with beautiful views. The Mediterranean beaches can be reached within a 10-minute drive. The cost of the room is from £40.

Highest-rated

  1. Hotel Sercotel Plana Parc – the hotel is 2 miles from Villarreal at Junction 48 of the AP-7 Motorway. Valencia Airport can be reached in 45 minutes. The comfortable rooms of the hotel are equipped with everything necessary, including toiletries. There is a swimming pool and a beautiful garden, onsite. The room can be rented from £43.
  2. Hotel Vila-Real Palace – is one of the best hotels in the city, located in La Plana shopping centre. The hotel offers a free spa with a gym and a swimming pool. There is an excellent restaurant where you can try Spanish national cuisine and some local dishes. The room for one costs £54.

How to get to

Estadio de la Ceramica on the map

The stadium is located in the north of the small city of Villarreal in the largest province of Valencia called Castelló. The stadium is 4 miles south of the capital of the province Castelló de la Plana. The population of Villarreal is only about 50,000 people, so the city is really small. The nearest airport is in Valencia, 41 miles from the stadium. You can get to the stadium via transport as described below:

By Car – is the fastest way to get from the airport directly to the stadium. You can rent a car or take advantage of the taxi services. The taxi will cost around £71-98, and the road will take about an hour.

By Train – the train journey from Valencia to Villarreal also takes about an hour. The railway station is only a 10 minutes walk from the stadium. You need to take the train at the station València-Estació del Nord. The train number is C-6. The trains run every 20 minutes and cost £4-5.

By Bus – the journey from Valencia will take you about 50 minutes. Tickets cost £4-7. Take the bus at the Valencia – Carrer Clarianos stop. The buses depart every four hours.

Parking

While getting to the stadium in Villarreal is not a problem, finding the free park spot can easily turn your evening into a nightmare. However, there is always a solution. The approximate matchday paid parking price near the sports venue in Villarreal is £4.

Eating out nearby

pub

Even though Villarreal is quite a small city, you can find many interesting restaurants and cafes in it. Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine, as well as local Catalan cuisine, will impress you. Some of the best food venues near the stadium in Villarreal are listed below.

Pubs, bars & cafes

  • El Raco de Pepa Tasca Gourmet – here you can feel the atmosphere of a real tavern of the past years. Try delicious dishes from fresh foods right from the market, and also enjoy exquisite wine from a wide selection.
  • Quesomentero Cheesebar – the choice of cheeses offered in this bar will really surprise you. Professional staff will tell you which kinds of cheese perfectly match with elegant Spanish wines.
  • Pizzeria & Ristorante La Piazzetta – without a doubt, it’s the best pizzeria in the city. Of course, they also prepare the other dishes of Italian cuisine at reasonable prices.

Restaurants

  • Restaurante Al d’Emilio – is a restaurant of magical Mediterranean cuisine. There you can enjoy fresh seafood, as well as the other delicious dishes for true gourmets.
  • Restaurante El Vasco – at the entrance to this restaurant you will see a T-shirt with the autograph of the most famous Spanish cyclist Contador. The chef of the restaurant perfectly cooks both meat and fish. The wine list will impress you.

Things to see at the stadium

stadium

Villarreal is a club with a long history and strong football traditions. It often plays in European competitions. If you want to get acquainted with the life and history of the club, you can visit special events at the stadium.

Tour

For all admirers of the club, Villarreal FC allows going on a tour of Estadio de la Ceramica and the Ciudad Deportiva training base. During the tour, you can see the locker rooms of teams, the pitch, the benches and VIP-boxes of the stadium. During the tour through the training base, everyone will be able to see how the players of the main team and youth prepare for the matches. For more information, you can call (+34) 964 500 250 or fill out the form at the official website.

Fan store

The store is located at the corner between the main and southern stands. It works from Tuesday to Saturday and on matchdays. It boasts a complete catalogue of Villarreal CF clothing, as well as posters, flags, scarves, souvenirs and other items for the Yellow Submarine’s fans.

Things to do in Villarreal

sightseeing

Villarreal is located north of Valencia on the banks of the river Mijares. The Mediterranean type of local climate features mild winters and hot summers. Villarreal can offer a lot of thrilling things despite its provinciality. There are beautiful beaches nearby, so you can combine the exploration of historical artefacts and cosy old streets with swimming in the Mediterranean Sea during the season.

Top 3 places to visit

Ermita de la Virgen de Gracia – this building is a typical representative of the Mediterranean style of architecture. In this museum, you can find some amazing collections of medieval ceramic tiles, the hall of ethnology and the hall of archaeology.

Església de Sant Jaume – is a monumental church, the largest of its kind in Spain. It’s dedicated to the Apostle St. James, the former patron of the city. This building was built between 1752 and 1779.

Convento del Carmen – today, the influence of Franciscan culture in Villarreal can be seen in a beautiful monastery built in the mid-17th century. It’s a unique piece of architecture with some great frescoes and other decorations.