The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia is a complex devoted to scientific and cultural dissemination and it consists of six main buildings: the Hemisfèric (IMAX cinema and digital screenings); the Umbracle (a landscaped viewing point and car park); the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum (an innovative interactive science centre); the Oceanográfico (the largest aquarium in Europe, with more than 500 marine species), and the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (specializing in opera).And finally, the Agora, which provides a multipurpose space for the whole complex.
Spanning a stretch of almost two kilometres of the former basin of the Turia River, this complex, an initiative of the Valencian regional government, features stunning architecture by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. It also boasts a tremendous capacity to entertain and stimulate the minds of its visitors who, on a tour of its different buildings, can learn all kinds of information related to science, technology, nature and art.
The idea is to participate, interact and above all enjoy these unique experiences, letting yourself be swept away by the spectacular IMAX images on its concave screen of 900 square metres, becoming an astronaut and travelling to the International Space Station, taking part in a live scientific experiment or seeing the rows of teeth of the various species of shark up close and learning how to appreciate and protect these very-endangered animals, as well as many other experiences.
As a whole, the digital screenings and large format films shown in the Hemisfèric, the interactive exhibitions in the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum and the bio-educational exhibitions in the Oceanográfico make up an interrelated, complementary offer with the sole aim of entertaining visitors and satisfying their curiosity.
The City of Arts and Sciences also embraces the much-admired Mediterranean heritage of sea and light – the blue and white colours – in its avant-garde architecture. Its bold lines reflect the identity of the capital of the Turia of the 21st century; this is the futuristic hallmark that symbolizes the new Valencia: a modern city within an ancient one, where millions of visitors come every year to enjoy culture, nature, art and science.
