Julio Cesar Villagra Stadium

Belgrano realised the dream of a ground of its own on 17 March 1929, when the stadium in Alberdi was inaugurated. The project, driven by club members through the late 1920s, opened with a capacity of only around 10,000, financed largely with municipal support, and was designed by architect Alfredo García Voglino.

From local pride to a night against River

The ground was later renamed for Julio César Villagra, the much-loved striker and club idol whose early death in 1993 turned his name into a symbol of Belgrano. Floodlights arrived in December 1945, and successive refurbishments in 1997, 2017, 2023 and 2024 modernised and expanded the terraces.

Its most famous night came in the 2011 promotion/relegation playoff, when Belgrano hosted River Plate in the first leg here and won 2–0. A 1–1 draw at the Monumental sealed a 3–1 aggregate victory, promoting Belgrano and relegating River to the second tier for the first time in their history — perhaps the greatest result in the club's story.

On matchday the Gigante de Alberdi becomes a wall of celeste and white. Belgrano's supporters, the "Piratas," pack the steep, close terraces, and because the stands sit almost on top of the pitch the noise has nowhere to escape — it bounces back down onto the players.

The Pirates and the Córdoba derby

The ground's biggest days are the Clásico cordobés against fierce city rivals Talleres de Córdoba, one of the most intense and divisive derbies in all of Argentine football. When Talleres come to Alberdi, the whole barrio takes sides.

• Colours: sky blue and white
• Fans: known as los Piratas / la hinchada celeste
• Atmosphere: tight, vertical terraces; relentless drumming and singing

The combination of a packed, old-school neighbourhood ground and one of the country's deepest local rivalries makes a night at the Gigante a quintessential Argentine football experience.

The stadium stands in Barrio Alberdi, on the west side of central Córdoba, around Arturo Orgaz street — a short distance from the city centre but firmly embedded in a working residential district.

Getting there and matchday tips

• Location: Alberdi, west of downtown Córdoba; roughly 2–3 km from Plaza San Martín.
• By transport: reachable by city bus lines and taxi/ride-share; on derby days expect road closures around the ground.
• On foot: an easy walk from the centre or the Cañada watercourse, following the celeste crowds.
• Tickets: Belgrano matches, especially the clásico, sell out fast — buy in advance through official channels.
• Nearby: Alberdi's bars and parrillas (grill restaurants) are ideal before kickoff; the Clínicas hospital district and central Córdoba are within walking distance.

Arrive early, soak up the barrio atmosphere, and respect that this is a passionate home ground first and foremost.