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EnglishThe City of Arts and Sciences: Valencia's landmark
- Origins: launched in the late 1980s by Joan Lerma, president of the Valencian government, the project got under way in 1996. Six buildings were entrusted to Santiago Calatrava; Félix Candela worked on the Oceanogràfic.
- The buildings: the Hemisfèric, the first to be built, covers about 13,000 m² and combines a Laserium, a planetarium and an IMAX cinema. The Príncipe Felipe Science Museum spreads over three floors, with tickets at €8, or €6.20 reduced. The Reina Sofía Palace of the Arts covers more than 40,000 m² and hosts opera, ballet and concerts.
- Wildlife and plants: the Oceanogràfic brings together about 500 marine species, including dolphins, belugas, jellyfish and sharks, with adult tickets from €35.90 and child tickets from €26.65, depending on the date. The Umbracle has a garden covered by arches nearly 20 metres high, an art walk and a night-time terrace.
- Cost: the initial budget of €300 million ended up at €900 million. The complex came ninth among the 12 Treasures of Spain chosen in 2007.
- Key point: the site also hosts summer festivals and the Fallas ninot exhibition.
Its history
It was in 1996 that construction of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias began. Despite its ultra-futuristic architecture, the project actually goes back several decades.
It was in the late 1980s that the president of the Valencian regional government, Joan Lerma, launched this ambitious project to promote the arts and sciences for the benefit of the whole Valencian Community and of visitors from all over the world.
After long deliberation by the government, the famous architect Calatrava was chosen to carry out this hugely ambitious project!
Still regarded as one of Spain's most ingenious and innovative architects, Santiago Calatrava is also known for his very modern, inventive style.
True to his reputation, Calatrava surprised everyone once again: no fewer than six buildings were built in all! The great Mexican architect Félix Candela also made his contribution, with the construction of the Oceanogràfic.
The Hemisfèric
The Hemisfèric was the first building of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias to be completed.
Covering a total area of about 13,000 m², this vast cinema has a high-performance Laserium, a planetarium and an IMAX system, one of the best high-resolution camera systems.
Designed and built in the shape of an eye, the Hemisfèric has the largest screen in the country, perfect for watching great films!
Today, the Hemisfèric is considered the centrepiece of the complex. So if you want an exceptional film experience, do not miss the Hemisfèric at the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias!
The Príncipe Felipe Science Museum
If science is more your thing, you will not be disappointed!
Spread over three floors, the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum is devoted to the evolution of life and to explaining science and technology.
The range of exhibitions on offer at this museum is breathtaking! Awareness activities and hands-on experiments, each more fun than the last, take place every day in real classrooms: you will feel like a child again!
Also a reference in the scientific world, the Museu de les Ciències hosts many conferences that bring together researchers from all over the world.
So if these science experiences have whetted your appetite, visit their website or go straight there: tickets cost €8, or €6.20 at the reduced rate.
The Oceanogràfic
Wildlife is also in the spotlight at the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias thanks to the Oceanogràfic! It is the largest aquarium in Europe, bringing together marine animals from all the planet's seas and oceans.
No fewer than 500 species live here: you can watch dolphins, jellyfish and starfish, as well as belugas, turtles and sharks from the most distant oceans.
To visit this marine park, an adult ticket costs between €35.90 and €43.05 and a child ticket (ages 4 to 12) between €26.65 and €31.95, depending on the date. And if you want to take the marine experience even further, the Oceanogràfic also has several restaurants inside the aquarium itself.
The Umbracle
After the wildlife, it is the plants' turn to take centre stage!
The Umbracle, at the entrance to the complex, is sure to surprise you. Its open-air garden is covered by gigantic arches nearly 20 metres high, forming a roof that is completely open to the sky.
Hundreds of palm trees and Mediterranean plants line this Valencian promenade. But the Umbracle is also home to an art walk, where many contemporary artists display their highly original sculptures.
By day, the Umbracle is a beautiful garden open to all visitors; by night, it turns into a surprising nightclub. Exotic cocktails, neon light shows and lively reggaeton are the recipe for a great night out at the Umbracle Terraza!
The Reina Sofía Palace of the Arts
The Reina Sofía Palace of the Arts is an architectural gem covering more than 40,000 square metres!
The last building of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, the Reina Sofía Palace of the Arts is devoted to the performing arts and music.
So if Latin rhythms are not your thing, the palace's main hall may well impress you, as it hosts major opera and ballet productions!
The Martín y Soler hall, the Main Hall and the palace's Auditorium also host many concerts, shows and plays, with many artists performing on stage.
5 little-known facts about the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias
Its huge budget
When it came to setting the budget for this monument, the Valencian government did not hold back: no less than €300 million was allocated to the project!
Yet although the initial budget was already huge, the final figure was rather different: in the end, no less than €900 million was spent to achieve the result.
A real film set
Unsurprisingly, its ultra-futuristic design and flamboyant architecture have won over many filmmakers from around the world.
Looking as if it came straight out of a science fiction film, the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia has been the setting for many films and series.
The famous series Doctor Who and the film Tomorrowland, starring George Clooney, both made the most of it.
One of Spain's 12 treasures
Organised in 2007 by Antena 3 and COPE, the 12 Treasures of Spain was a contest to choose the 12 treasures of the Kingdom of Spain according to various criteria. Spaniards voted online or by phone for natural and artistic monuments.
Hugely popular, the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias was chosen as one of these 12 treasures and reached ninth place in the ranking, ahead of the famous Sagrada Familia!
A summer dance floor
Every summer, the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias also hosts many music and dance festivals. Spanish artists such as Amatria, Fangoria and La M.O.D.A. were on the bill for the 2021 festival!
Host of the Fallas
Passed down for generations, the Fallas festival is a Valencian tradition held in March, now recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias hosts the ninot exhibition. Ninots are figures made by the falla associations (the "falleros"); the best one is chosen and, by tradition, displayed in the city's Fallas Museum.
We hope you have learned a little more about the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias in Valencia.
If you would like to know more about this superb city, a great place to invest on the Spanish coast, feel free to contact us and we will be happy to answer your questions.
Lisa Boudinar, web journalist| Valencia office
Thomas Rouer is the founder of Alveo Search and the CEO of the Alveo group. Based in Spain for almost ten years, he develops property services designed for the specific needs of foreign buyers.
His expertise covers every aspect of buying property in Spain: understanding the market, searching for and selecting properties, negotiation, financing, paperwork, tax and securing the purchase process.
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