The City of Arts and Sciences is the most iconic landmark of Valencia and one of 12 Treasures of Spain. It was patterned after the same concept built in Paris. The project was started in 1996 and has been gradually inaugurating various centers in the complex. It is situated at the end of now Turia Garden, a sunken 9 km park located at the riverbed of River Turia. The City of Arts and Sciences includes several buildings and structures, such as:
L'Hemisferic (inaugurated in 1998) - an IMAX Cinema, planetarium and laserium. It resembles a giant eye.
Museu de les Ciencies Principe Felipe (2000) - an interactive museum of science that resembles a skeleton of a whale.
L'Umbracie (2001) - an open structure enveloping a landscaped walk with plant species indigenous to Valencia.
L'Oceanografic (2003) - an open-air oceanographic aquarium and park. It is the largest in Europe.
Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia (2005) - an opera house and performing arts center dedicated to music and the performing arts.
Assut de I'Or Bridge (2008) - a white cable-stayed bridge crossing the dry Turia riverbed.
L'Agora (2009) - a covered plaza in which concerts and sporting events take place.
Valencia Towers - part of a project of the construction of three skyscrapers of 308, 266 and 220 m. These towers are still in progress, but many doubt that they will be completed.
At the site was a large man-made lake where people were playing water sports.
We saw a group of little kids who were holding a rope not to be lost. They were soooo cute.
River Turia was flowing in the middle of Valencia. But, it flooded badly in 1957 and the city detoured the river outside the original route. The riverbed then was converted into a garden or a park that runs up to 9 km. I rode a bike to experience the sunken garden and it was beautiful.
Palau de la Musica was highly praised for its excellent acoustics.
As the city's iconic landmarks, Valencia spent a lot more money than they budgeted. Three times more. Wow... - Jeffrey
No comments:
Post a Comment