The City of Arts and Sciences is a series of complex, modern buildings in Valencia that make up one of the most popular tourist attractions in Spain. The City of Arts and Sciences is surrounded by water in which you can pedal a water bike, kayak for two, take a transparent boat or try walking on water inside of waterballs! Which are you most excited to try?
Construction began in 1996 by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela, and finally finished in 2009 with over 8 unique parts! With the authenticity of the architecture of these buildings, it makes sense that many scenes from movies or video games would be shot here such as Gran Turismo 6, Dr. Who, Tomorrowland, Westworld and more! With so much to do here, we’ve broken down the most popular attractions to help you make the most of your time in Valencia.
L'Hemisfèric
L’Hemisféric, built to represent the shape of the human eye, was the first building in the City of Arts and Sciences that was open to the public in 1998. There’s an IMAX cinema in the “pupil” of the structure, as well as a planetarium and laserium which includes stunning laser-light performances with incredible visual effects.
Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe
The most spectacular part of the Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe is how it was built to be a completely interactive museum. With over 85,302 feet of exhibition space, there is a diverse array of interactive activities that take pieces from science, technology and the environment. In addition, the architecture itself is something to marvel at (like the rest of the City of Arts and Sciences) as the building resembles a whale skeleton.
L'Oceanogràfic
L'Oceanogràfic is the largest aquarium in Europe! The aquarium houses over 500 species of marine animals, including dolphins, belugas, sawfish, jellyfish, starfish, sea urchins, walruses, sea lions, seals, penguins, turtles, sharks and rays. The architecture of the L’Oceanográfic represents a water lily as the aquarium is a tribute to all things aquatic.
L'Umbracle
L'Umbracle is a sculpture garden with many plants that are indigenous to Valencia, Spain. Along the path are sculptures by many contemporary artists such as Yoko Ono. The outdoor gallery weaves along underneath 100+ arches that are 59 feet high and make for a beautiful, scenic walk.
Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia
The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia is a space for opera, zarzuela which is a type of Spanish musical comedy, classical ballet, contemporary dance, symphonic music, musicals and theater. The building is split into four main sections and was designed to seat 1,800 people. If you’re in Valencia, try to catch a show!
L'Àgora
The L'Àgora is a multi-functional complex that is used for a variety of incredible events such as concerts, performances, exhibitions, conventions, staging of congresses, and international sports meetings including the Valencia Open and the Freestyle Burn Spanish Cup.
The unique architecture of each building as well as their specific functions come together to make the City of Arts and Sciences one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain! Whether you want to see an IMAX movie, take a walk in the L'Umbracle or check out some unique animals at the L’Oceanográfic, you won’t regret your visit to the City of Arts and Sciences!
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