Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences)

When you enter this complex it is like walking onto a Sci-Fi film set.

The City of Arts and Sciences is a cultural and entertainments  complex in Valencia, Spain. It is probably  the most important modern tourist destination in the city of Valencia and a massive contrast to the historic part of the city. Exterior scenes in the 2015 film Tomorrowland were filmed around the City of Arts and Sciences. It was also used as a filming location in the  British sci-fi series Doctor Who in 2016. 

 Even the multi storey parking garage is a magnificent example of modern architecture. The complex  is situated in  the former riverbed of the river Turia which was drained and rerouted after  a major flood event in 1957. The floods are commemorated on information boards around the “City”.

The old riverbed was first converted  into an attractive park which also includes the Parque Gulliver children’s play area. The “City” was designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candella . Construction started in 1996 and, with the first part completed , the”City” was inaugurated 1998 when L’Hemisfèric, an IMAX cinema and planetarium was opened.

The Prince Felipe  Museum of the Sciences, was opened about 3 years later. December 12, 2002 was the opening of L’Oceanographic, the largest aquarium built in Europe. Finally, in  2005 the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia   was opened and became Valencia’s opera house. Also present on site are L’Umbracle( opened 2001) , an open structure enveloping a landscaped walk across the top of the parking garage  with plant species indigenous to Valencia  and an outdoor art gallery with sculptures by (contemporary artists including Yoko Ono)  ( opened 2009)  a multi use covered  plaza  for concerts and sporting events . Also of note is El Pont de l’Assut de l’Or ( built 2008) an impressive cable stayed bridge  crossing the dry Turia riverbed, connecting the south side with Minorca Street, in between El Museu de les Ciències and L’Agora. The tower of the bridge at 125 meters high is the highest point in the city.