Calatrava, Candela and the old river: the back story

About Calatrava, Candela and the old river: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Valencia Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Valencia’s greatest change happened in its river. The Turia once ran around the old town; its old bed is now the Jardín del Turia, a garden about nine kilometres long crossed by 18 bridges (Visit Valencia). At its eastern end stands the City of Arts and Sciences. Its buildings are by two Spanish architects: Santiago Calatrava designed the Palau de les Arts, the Hemisfèric, the Science Museum, the Umbracle and the Àgora, and Félix Candela the striking roofs of the main buildings of the Oceanogràfic (cac.es).

The order it opened

The Hemisfèric opened first, on 16 April 1998; the Science Museum and the Umbracle followed in 2000, the Oceanogràfic in 2003 and the Palau de les Arts in 2005 (cac.es).

Calatrava

The Hemisfèric is designed as a huge eye; the Palau de les Arts stages opera and concerts in four main halls; the Umbracle is a garden walkway and the gateway to the complex; the Àgora now houses CaixaForum Valencia.

Go at dusk, when the white buildings light up over the water.

Candela

Félix Candela designed the roofs of the Oceanogràfic’s Access Building and its Underwater Restaurant: thin concrete shells that seem to float.

Visiting

Tickets for the Hemisfèric, the Science Museum and the Oceanogràfic are sold on the official cac.es and oceanografic.org websites. On stormy autumn days, check for closures before you go.

Our advice: walk there through the Turia Garden from the old town.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Calatrava, Candela and the old river: the back story before you go.