city of arts and sciences – The Symbol Of Valencia, Spain

The article has travel tips and a brief history of the city of arts and sciences, which became the symbol of Valencia and it was elected among the 12 treasures of Spain.

The great flood of Valencia

The Rio Turia overflowed into the heart of the city of Valencia on October 14, 1957. The flood devastated the city causing 81 deaths and serious damage. In some places, the water reached 5 meters in height. The flood destroyed 5,800 homes and created 3,500 displaced families. The flood left the city without water, electricity and gas for days. It was one of the worst flood in the history of Spain.

The city government decided to intervene to prevent this disaster from happening again. The government diverted the course of the Turia river by moving it about 3 km further south where the V-30 motorway now passes. The river eventually flows into the Mediterranean Sea on the south side of the port.

The detour left a large green area in the ancient riverbed of the Rio Turia. The large green area was renamed Jardì del Turia (Garden of Turia). The Jardì del Turia was opened in 1986 and it is the largest urban garden in Spain, covering 110 hectares and almost 10 km long.

Who had the idea of ​​the city of arts and sciences?

At the end of the 1970s, Spain experienced a democratic transition. In those years the young ruling class of the “Partido Socialista Obrero Español” (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, PSOE) emerged. Those young politicians were trained in Spanish universities in the last years of Francisco Franco’s dictatorship. The Socialists soon gained government roles. The Socialists represented a cultured and refined left wing that set out to modernize the country.

In 1982, the leader of the “Partido Socialista del País Valenciano” (Socialist Party of the Valencian Country, PSPV-PSOE) Joan Lerma was appointed President of the Generalitat Valenciana. The new President who graduated in Economic and Business Science from the University of Valencia was just thirty-one years old. Lerma left the presidency of the Valencian Community in 1995.

In 1989, Joan Lerma traveled to Paris to visit the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, the largest science museum in Europe. On his return, he proposed to build a city of science and technology in the Jardì del Turia near the port. In his ideas, the new museum center would become a symbol of the city.

The preliminary architecture project was to build a science museum, an IMAX cinema with planetarium and a communications tower. The tower was supposed to be 382 meters high so it would be the third tallest in the world.

The project

The internationally renowned Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava designed the works. Calatrava’s works are numerous and easily recognizable. For example, the bridges are characterized by resting on single leaning pylons. Calatrava is also known for making pharaonic projects that turn out to be much more expensive than anticipated. The Valencian polo is no exception.

Despite criticism for its size and exorbitant costs, the city of arts and sciences was appreciated by the population. In fact, in an initiative promoted and conducted by the television channel Antena 3, the Spaniards voted to include the museum complex among the 12 national treasures.

In 1995, Joan Lerma and the Socialist Party lost the regional elections to the “Partido Popular” (People’s Party, PP). The new center-right administration approved a variant of the project in 1996. The telecommunications tower was torn down to make way for an aquarium.

Félix Candela, Calatrava’s elderly mentor, designed the new aquarium. The new government left the museum and the cinema unchanged. An opera house was added. The complex was thus renamed the City of Arts and Sciences.

The buildings

In 1998, the first works were completed. First of all, the Hemisfèric, an eye-shaped building that contains the IMAX cinema and the planetarium, was completed. Then the Science Museum was inaugurated and it was named after Príncipe Felipe. Immediately after, the Umbracle was open. The Umbracle consists of a public garden with palm trees, tropical trees and Mediterranean flora. The Umbracle is 320 meters long, covered by 55 fixed arches and 54 movable arches.

In 2002, the Oceanogràfic that is the largest aquarium in the entire European Union was inaugurated. In addition to the tanks with the wonderful sea creatures and the fantastic shark tunnel, the Oceanogràfic also contains a dolphinarium. The whole area offers constant exhibitions and entertainment for visitors.

In 2005 authorities opened the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía that is the opera house. In 2008 the “Assut de l’Or” bridge was inaugurated. The pylon of the bridge whose height is 125 meters is the highest point in Valencia. Finally, the last building to be inaugurated was the Agora. Completed in 2009, the Agora is dedicated to musical and sporting events.

travel Tips

The city of arts and sciences is approximately 40 minutes’ walk from Puerta del Mar in the city center. We advise to get there by walking along the Jardì del Turia. The pleasant walk is about 2.5 km long, which is a nice city trip. Otherwise, numerous buses stop near the museum. Metro stops are further away.

The complex is open all year round. In summer, the aquarium follows the opening hours from 10 am to 8 pm. From September to June, it opens instead from 10 am to 6 pm. In winter, visitors can stay until 8 pm on Saturdays only. The cost is € 31.90.

The Hemisfèric and the Science museum have similar opening hours to the aquarium and their admission costs € 8 each. In the Hemisfèric it is possible to see a movie projected on the ceiling, which contains the concave screen of 900 square meters. You can purchase a total ticket for the three buildings at a cost of € 39.10. Those who own the Valencia Tourist Card are entitled to a 15% discount.

Guided tours are available to visit the Opera House and cost € 11. However, the visitor must remember that on holidays and Sundays the palace is only accessible in the morning.

Note: Prices reference time mentioned in the article is 28 May, 2022

Written by Enrico, Translated by Hua and Photo from Hua