The City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències in Valencian and Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias in Spanish) is arguably Valencia’s best-known and most recognisable landmark. Situated towards the mouth of the former Turia River into the Mediterranean Sea, right at the end of Turia Gardens, it is an impressive and unique entertainment complex that pulls in tourists to the city from all over the world.
About the Complex
Designed by Santiago Calatrava (also famed for the World Trade Center PATH station terminal in New York) and Félix Candela and built between 1996 and 2009, it represents a modern and confident Spain as the sole Valencian member of the 12 Treasures of Spain (although the city’s Silk Exchange and the nearby Elche Palmera were also nominated). The complex includes an eye-shaped cinema, planetarium and laserium (L'Hemisfèric), Science Museum, a landscaped walkway (L’Umbracle), an oceanographic park (L'Oceanogràfic) – the largest of its kind in Europe, an opera house (El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia), a cable-stayed bridge that also marks the highest point in the city (El Pont de l'Assut de l'Or) and a covered plaza for specialist events (L'Àgora). There are also still plans, although it doesn’t look like they’ll ever be realised, for three sky-scrapers called the Torres de València (for an idea of what they’d look like, click here).
Getting There
For those that like a walk, the nicest way of getting to the City of Arts and Sciences is to walk through the Turia Gardens and follow it towards the end, where you’ll be greeted by beautiful trees, orange groves and more architectural delights. The closest metro stations to walk from are Alameda or Colón, taking about 20 minutes to walk from both (look for Lines 3 and 5). There are also buses that go right by the City of Arts and Sciences, so that’d be your best bet if you don’t want a walk (look for the 1, 13, 14,15, 19, 35, 95 and 40). The public transport is very cheap and among Valencia’s best assets as a city. There’s also parking nearby if you drive, as well as public bikes if you want to cycle.
Getting the Most Out of It
There’s an awful lot to see and do in the City of Arts and Sciences, and if you want to see the lot, you should set aside a whole day for it, although two-day tickets are available if you want to take your time with it all. It’s a full day and if you combine it with a walk around Turia Gardens, make sure to wear comfortable footwear. For 37.90 EUR, you can go to a viewing at L'Hemisfèric, go to the Oceanogràfic and the Science Museum, but there are other combined ticket options ranging in price from 12.60 EUR to 31.90 EUR. For individual trips, the Oceanogràfic is the most expensive at 29.70 EUR, but you can see everything from dolphin shows to mantis shrimps there, and it is an undeniable highlight in Valencia. There’s also an underwater restaurant to take in the sealife as it swims around you.
After a walk around the Oceanogràfic, head off to the Science Museum, with plenty of interesting and interactive exhibitions in a building that is utterly unique. It also features seasonal exhibitions, with an intriguing dinosaur exhibit when we went. In front of the Science Museum, across the water, is the Hemisfèric where you can see a film (including specially made films and regular films, with subtitles as well). There’s also places to unwind with a coffee and go zorbing, if that’s more your speed. Keep an eye out for shows at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia.
If you want to save your money, even just visiting it and walking around its grounds is a fascinating experience – the futuristic otherworldly beauty of the place is in its unusual designs with a celebration of the city’s, and humankind’s, potential. For more information, visit their official website here.
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