CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Comprising six buildings of futuristic architecture, the City of Arts and Sciences (CAC) stretches along a 2-kilometre stretch of the former dry riverbed of the Turia. It was designed by Santiago Calatrava, who spent almost 15 years working on it. Its gigantic proportions and spectacular architecture have made it one of Europe's largest cultural complexes and a symbol of ^21st-century Valencia.

Hemisphèric. Inaugurated in 1998, this was the city's first building. It takes the form of a human eye, symbolizing the public gaze, and houses Spain's largest Imax cinema. With an inclined 3D screen covering 900 m² and 24 m in diameter. Its program includes films on dinosaurs, nature, wide open spaces and adventure.

Príncipe Felipe Science Museum. Inaugurated in 2000, this museum dedicated to science and technology occupies more than 42,000 m². Its geometric shapes are reminiscent of a dinosaur skeleton. On 3 floors, you can discover how electricity and sound work, explore DNA and observe one of the world's largest Foucault pendulums.

Oceanografic. Inaugurated in 2002, this is the only complex designed by architect Félix Candela to cover more than 110,000 m², making it the largest aquarium in Europe. It is divided into ten major zones, recreating the habitats of the Mediterranean, the polar oceans (Arctic and Antarctic), islands, tropical seas, temperate seas and the Red Sea. The park also features a huge dolphinarium with shows several times a day. At the heart of the complex, the Submarino restaurant is also its most emblematic building, with its water-lily-shaped structure.

Reina Sofia Palace of the Arts. Inaugurated in 2005, this building seems to defy the laws of engineering. This impressive construction, by Calatrava, has a base that is narrower than the rest of the structure, giving it the shape of a large ocean liner. At the top of the building, a metal feather points skywards. The main auditorium seats 1,400 and hosts operas, ballets and concerts. There's also a 1,500-seat auditorium and a smaller concert hall, the Aula Magistral, with a capacity of around 400.

Umbracle. This is a 320 m-long walkway that acts as a viewpoint. Located at the entrance to the Cité, it offers a view of the surrounding buildings reflected in the 13,500 m² of side pools. It consists of 55 fixed and 54 floating arches, 18 m high, and is home to hundreds of palm trees, bougainvilleas, climbing plants and several contemporary art sculptures.

Agora. Inaugurated in 2009, this is the city's newest and tallest building, standing 80 m high. Covered in blue trencadis, a mosaic made of ceramic chips, it looks like a huge covered square. Its shape gives rise to many interpretations, but the most common is that of 2 intertwined hands.