City of Arts and Science

The City of Arts and Science (in Valencian and officially Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències) is an architectural, cultural and entertainment complex located at the end of the old Turia riverbed, designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela, in association with the engineers responsible for the structural design of the Oceanographic Alberto Domingo and Carlos Lázaro. It was opened on April 16, 1998 with the opening of Hemisférico. Its construction is currently being finalized.

The City of Arts and Sciences consists of several buildings:

The Oceanographic

It is the biggest oceanographic acquarium in Europe, with 110.000 square meters and 42 million liters of water. The outside was designed in the form of a water lily by architect Adrián Peláez Coronado, who was born in Valencia. The structural design of the roof was designed by engineers Alberto Domingo and Carlos Lázaro. The planter's main marine ecosystems are all represented. Every buildin represtes one of the following aquatic environment: Mediterranean, Wetlands, Temperate and Tropical Seas, Oceans, Antarctic, Islands and the Red Sea. In addition to this there is also the Dolphinarium, with 24 million liters of water and depth of 10,5 meters. The Access Building, which welcomes visitors, and the Underwater Restaurant stand out because of their spectacular roofs designed by Félix Candela.

Prince Felipe Museum of Science

In a shape similar to the skeleton of a dinosaur, it is an interactive museum dedicated to science, technology and the environment. It occupies about 40,000 m² spread over three floors. Its goal is to create interest in scientific and technological knowledge through fun and entertainment. Great importance is placed on the interactivity of temporary and permanent exhibitions (its motto is "Prohibited not to touch, not to feel, not to think").

L'Hemisfèric

It is an IMAX cinema projection room, planetarium and a laser in the shape of an eye, with an area of approximately 13.000 m². The programming offers topics of science and technology and changes periodically.

Palacio de las Artes Reina Sofía

It is the  opera of Valencia's theater and seat of the Orchestra of the Valencian Community. The building has four large rooms: the Main Room, the Master Classroom, the Amphitheater and theChamber Theater. It is dedicated to music and the performing arts.  

L'Umbracle

It stands out for being a modern construction from where you can see the entire complex of the City of Arts and Sciences and in which a series of parallel arcades, in the form of a shade, cover a long and narrow garden of palm trees and other Mediterranean plants. The structure is made with white trencadis, a typical style of architect Santiago Calatrava. In the beginning it was a garden that tried to offer a sample of the native plants of the Valencian Community, although at the moment its east part is occupied by a discotheque lounge and the western part is used  by a company that offers a attraction of dinosaurs for children. It houses the Paseo de las Esculturas, an open-air art gallery with sculptures by contemporary artists (Miquel Navarro, Francesc Abad, Yōko Ono and others).

The Ágora

It is a covered square in which concerts and sporting events are held, like the new grand prize of the Valencian Community of Tennis. At the moment its construction is being finalized, it has a metallic structure and it will be lined with trencadis blue and crystal. It will have a height of 80 meters and it will occupy a surface of 5000 square meters . Its shape resembles, according to Calatrava himself, two interlaced hands. Its upper parts consist of wings (the fingers of the hands) that allow the light to be filtered through into the interior.

El Puente de l'Assut de l'Or

Also known by its nickname el jamonero or the harp bridge, it's a cable-stayed bridge that crosses the Turia Garden, it connects the south round with calle Menorca and its top is the highest point in the city. It consists of a nucleus and ribs on both sides. In total son there are 72 ribs, each one weighing 21 pounds. The bridge still stands thanks to the 29 cables that provide support from the front of the mast.