Eva Peron "La Ciudadela"

La Ciudadela's story begins on 24 March 1932, when San Martín played its first official match there, a friendly against the Uruguayan side Uruguay Postal, with Francisco Sanjuán serving as club president. In its early days the ground had just two stands, one made of wood and the other of metal, a far cry from the stadium known today.

From wooden planks to a modern ground

Over the decades the stadium grew alongside successive club administrations. During the 1960s, under president Ernesto García, the north and south terraces were built, and in 1968 a floodlighting system was installed to allow night matches. Further work followed with renovations in 1977, 1993 and, more recently, in 2017, modernising the stands, access points and facilities. Its official naming as Estadio Eva Perón tied the ground to Argentina's political and popular memory, although La Ciudadela has always remained the name used by the people. Each phase of building work accompanied San Martín's varied campaigns across the divisions of Argentine football.

Few grounds in Argentina's interior match the fervour felt at La Ciudadela on matchdays. The supporters of "el Santo" turn the terraces into a sea of flags, drums and unbroken chanting that backs the team from the warm-up to the final whistle.

The barometer of the Tucumán clásico

The heat reaches its peak in the derby against Atlético Tucumán, the clash that brings the whole province to a standstill and divides families, neighbourhoods and workplaces. When Tucumán's two giants meet, La Ciudadela fills with tension, colour and a deafening roar that turns home advantage into something very real. The closeness of the stands to the pitch sharpens every move and every protest, and the crowd's backing drives the side on in decisive moments. Beyond the derby, promotion and survival matches also fire up the Santo faithful, who have made this stadium a place feared by any visitor arriving in San Miguel de Tucumán.

Reaching La Ciudadela is straightforward within San Miguel de Tucumán. The stadium sits on Simón Bolívar 1960, in the La Ciudadela district, just minutes from the city centre and well connected to the main avenues.

Getting there and visitor tips

• By public transport: several urban bus lines link the centre and the terminals with the stadium area; it is worth checking routes on matchdays.
• By car: access from the centre is quick, though parking nearby is limited on derby days, so it pays to arrive early.
• Tickets: sold through the club's official channels and authorised outlets; for the clásico against Atlético they sell out fast.
• Tips: arrive early to enjoy the pre-match atmosphere, bring water and warm clothing depending on the season, and check the signage for each stand to find your place.