Yesterday I stepped into the future as I entered the City of Arts and Sciences located in the Turia Gardens in Valencia. I was struck by the sheer beauty of its architecture with the light turquoise water surrounding its futuristic buildings, creating a strong feeling that I was either in a sci-fi movie or in a transhuman society.
The creative minds behind the City's design are two extraordinary visionaries, Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. There are seven structures in the complex: L'Hemisfèric, el Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, L'Umbracle, el Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe, el Pont de L'assut de L'or, L'oceanografic and L'Àgora.
L'Hemisfèric
The City was inaugurated in 1998 with the opening of L'Hemisfèric, an IMAX theater, planetarium and laserium.
From the side, the movie theater looks like an eye.
I watched a movie about dinosaurs which was fun, and the ticket cost only 9 euros.
El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia
Another stunning building is el Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, an opera house and performing arts center.
From certain angles, the palace looked like a helmet of a giant transformer.
I was interested in the Madama Butterfly by Puccini for that night but the tickets were sold out.
L'Umbracle
Across a bridge from the palace is L'Umbracle, a structure consisting of many connected arches which houses plants native to Valencia and a few beautiful sculptures.
El Museu de les Ciencias Príncipe Felipe
Along L'Umbracle is el Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe, an interactive museum of science that supposedly resembles a skeleton of a whale.
El Pont de L'assut de L'or
The back of the museum faces a harp-like bridge, el Pont de L'assut de L'or. With its height of 125 meters it easily serves as a landmark that you can use to navigate when lost in the city.
L'oceanografic
Built in the shape of a water lily, it is the largest oceanographic aquarium in Europe with over 500 species.
L'Àgora
On the other side of the bridge is L'Àgora, a covered plaza for concerts and sporting events which is currently under renovation.
The spacious surroundings, beautiful vegetation, many bike and walking paths make the area a perfect place for picnics, exercise and long walks. I would love to go to an opera and see the science museum, which I guess I will have to do on my next trip to Valencia.
As I was leaving the City, the Sun was setting, which highlighted the beauty of the opera house.
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