City of Arts and Sciences

The City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències) is the spectacular avant-garde icon of Valencia, dedicated to culture, science, and leisure. It is located at the end of the old Turia riverbed (Turia Gardens), comprising different spaces:
 

L’Hemisfèric: has the shape of an eye, designed by Santiago Calatrava and inaugurated in 1998. It houses a large concave screen room for IMAX cinema projections, planetarium, and Laser.
 

The Prince Philip Science Museum: its construction simulates a whale's skeleton. It is an interactive museum (concept of "please touch") of science, technology, and the environment. It occupies around 40,000 sq meters and is divided into three floors. It opened in 2000 and has also been the venue for various cultural and social events in Valencia.
 

L’Umbracle: it is a walkway and garden with plant species native to the Valencian Community (lentisk, cistus, rosemary, honeysuckle, lavender, palm trees, etc.). Its roof was built with floating arches from which the entire complex of the City of Arts and Sciences can be observed. Its structure was made with white mosaic, typical of Calatrava’s buildings. Inside is The Sculpture Walk, an open-air gallery with contemporary sculptures by artists such as Miquel Navarro, Yoko Ono, among others.
 

L’Oceanographic: this building is the largest oceanographic aquarium in Europe. It was inaugurated in 2003. Its roof is shaped like a water lily and was designed by the Valencian architect Adrián Peláez Coronado. Its structure was created by engineers Carlos Lázaro and Alberto Domingo. Inside, it is dedicated to representing the main marine ecosystems of the world. It is divided into different aquatic environments: Mediterranean, Wetlands, Temperate and Tropical Seas, Oceans, Arctic, Antarctic, Red Sea Islands, and the Dolphinarium. The Access Building and the Submarine Restaurant have spectacular roofs, thanks to the design of Félix Candela.
 

The Queen Sofía Palace of Arts: dedicated to music and performing arts. It is the opera house of the city of Valencia and the seat of the Valencian Community Orchestra. It was inaugurated in 2005. It is divided into: Main Hall, Master Classroom, Amphitheatre, Chamber Theatre, Exhibition Hall.
 

The Assut de l'Or Bridge: also popularly known as the ham stand, sail bridge or harp bridge. It is a cable-stayed bridge that crosses the Turia Gardens, designed by Calatrava. It was completed in 2008. Its 125 m pylon is the tallest point in Valencia.
 

The Agora: a covered square also designed by Calatrava, built for concerts and sports events such as the Valencian Community Tennis Grand Prix. It is located between the Assut de l'Or bridge and L’Oceanographic. It is also worth noting that this building has hosted Valencia Fashion Week.