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The City of Arts and Sciences is a cultural and architectural complex in Valencia, Spain. It is a wonder of futuristic architecture.
Designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela, the project began in 1996 and was completed in 2009. Many consider the marvelous white city one of the most important destinations in Valencia and a treasure of Spain. We agree.
The City of Arts and Sciences is made from several unique structures connected by a plaza and bridges. It is surrounded by water and centered in a city over 2,000 years old. Despite this, this city within a city and its modern architectural designs seem like they’re from the future.
Set in a former riverbed, the inventive structures, beginning with L’ Hemisfèric and create a world worth exploring. So we did.
It is a city you must spend days taking in to appreciate what the architects have created. Wandering the grounds left us stunned and awed at their magnificent vision. Here are a few structures we loved.
The Hemisfèric
Built in 1998, the Hemisfèric is a 3D cinema, planetarium and centerpiece of the city. Also known as the “eye of knowledge,” the building is surrounded by a glass-bottom pool, resembling a giant eye.
The planetarium is a half-sphere in a concrete structure with aluminum awnings and shutters. The shutters fold upward to form a sun breaker roof opening along the eye’s curve. It reveals the theater, which is the domed “iris” of the eye. Inside holds a massive concave IMAX screen.
The Oceanografic
The Oceanografic is the largest aquarium in Europe and an open-air oceanographic park. Conceived by architect Félix Candela, the 42-million-liter aquarium is white and shaped like a water lily. It’s intended to represent different aquatic locations, including wetlands, tropical seas, the Antarctic, etc.
The aquarium is home to over 500 different marine species. It includes sharks, dolphins, penguins, sea urchins, jellyfish, walruses, sea lions, seals, and wetland birds.
Palau de les Arts
This opera and performing arts center hosts operas, ballet, concerts, and zarzuela – a lyric-dramatic genre of spoken and sung performance. The building includes a main hall, master hall, an auditorium, and the Martin y Soler theatre.
Water, landscaping, and walking paths surround the outside of the metallic white structure, while lifts and stairways connect the sections. Two laminated steel shells and a metallic feather outer roof supported by white concrete cover the colossal building.
Prince Felipe Museum of Sciences
Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the Prince Felipe Museum of Sciences is over 9 acres long. You cannot overlook that it resembles a prehistoric whale skeleton.
This hands-on science museum takes its mission to heart. We smiled at the signs stating, “Not touching is prohibited.” The museum hosts exhibitions around the human body, climate change, and biometrics, and much more.
Umbracle
The Umbracle is a vast, open-access contemporary sculpture garden designed to enter the City of Arts and Sciences. It has 55 fixed and 54 floating arches that stand nearly fifty feet tall.
The “Walk of the Sculptures” features work from Yoko Ono, Miquel from Navarre, Francesc Abbot, and others.
Assut D’or Bridge
The tip of this white cable-stayed bridge is the highest point in the city. The triangle-shaped structure, created by Santiago Calatrava, features curved pylons with counterweights. The cables appear to pull it back like a bow across the now dry riverbed.
The bridge allows motor vehicle and pedestrian travel in both directions. A pedestrian bridge connects the Science Museum and the Agora.
Ágora
The most recent addition to the city, the Àgora, opened in 2009. Its blue facade rises out of the water like an iceberg. This ensures the Àgora stands out in a sea of white.
Both inside and out beneath a covered plaza, the venue hosts performances, conventions, concerts, exhibitions, sporting events, and more.
Visiting the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain
The cost of entry into the building varies from a few euros to €20 per person for the aquarium. Walking through and admiring the stunning architecture and landscaping is free. Just a walkthrough will be a stimulating experience and lesson to fantastical modern design. It’s worth the trip.
Find it at Av. del Professor López Piñero, 7, 46013 Valencia, Spain.