The City of Arts and Sciences is an entertainment-based cultural and architectural complex in the city of Valencia, Spain. It is the most important modern tourist destination in the city of Valencia.
The City of Arts and Sciences is situated at the end of the former riverbed of the river Turia, which was drained and rerouted after a catastrophic flood in 1957. The old riverbed was turned into a picturesque sunken park.
Designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela, the project underwent the first stages of construction in July 1996 and the finished "city" was inaugurated April 16, 1998 with the opening of L'Hemisfèric.
The entire complex consists of several buildings:
1. L'Hemisfèric - an Imax Cinema, Planetarium and Laserium. The building is meant to resemble a giant eye. The Hemesferic also known as the planetarium or the “eye of knowledge” is the centerpiece of the City of Arts and Sciences. Its design resembles an eyelid that opens to access the surrounding water pool. The bottom of the pool is glass, creating the illusion of the eye as a whole.
2. El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe - is an interactive museum of science that resembles the skeleton of a whale. The hotch-potch of exhibits is designed more for 'entertainment value' than for science education. The building is much more impressive outside than inside. Much of the ground floor is taken up by a basketball court sponsored by a local team and various companies. The first floor has a beautiful view of the Turia Garden that surrounds it. The second floor hosts “The Legacy of Science” exhibition by the researchers. The third floor is known as the “Chromosome Forest” which shows the sequencing of human DNA. Also on this floor is the “Zero Gravity,” the “Space Academy,” and “Marvel Superheroes” exhibitions.
3. L'Umbracle - a landscaped walk with plant species indigenous to Valencia. It harbors in its interior The Walk of the Sculptures, an outdoor art gallery with sculptures from contemporary artists. The Umbracle is a space that is a home to numerous sculptures surrounded by nature. It was designed as an entrance to the City of Arts and Sciences. The plants in the garden were carefully picked to change color with the seasons.
4. L'Oceanogràfic — an open-air oceanographic park. It is the largest oceanographic aquarium in Europe. It was built in the shape of a water lily and is the work of architect Félix Candela. Each building represents different aquatic
environments including the Mediterranean, Wetlands, Temperate and Tropical Seas, Oceans, the Antarctic, the Artctic, Islands and the Ted Sea. This aquarium is a home to over 500 different species including dolphins, belugas, sawfish, jellyfish, starfish, sea urchins, walruses, sea lions, seals, penguins, turtles, sharks,and rays. It also inhabits wetland bird species.
5. El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia — an opera house and performing arts center. It contains four large rooms: a Main Room, Magisterial Classroom, Amphitheater and Theater of Camera. It is dedicated to music and the scenic art s. The Palau de Les Arts has four sections; the main hall, the master hall, the auditorium, and the Martin y Soler theatre. It holds many events such as opera, theatre and music in its auditoriums. Panoramic lifts and stairways connect platforms at different heights on the inside of the metallic frames of the building.
6. L'Àgora — a covered plaza in which concerts and sporting events. The Agora is a space designed to hold a variety of events such as concerts, performances, exhibitions, conventions, staging of congresses, and international sports meetings.
7. El Pont de l'Assut de l'Or — a suspension bridge that connects the south side with Minorca Street, whose 125 meters high pillar is the highest point in the city.
