These are all done in modern architectural forms, which present possibly the most remarkable use of the bed of the Turia, diverted outside the city because of mid-century [20th] flood damage.

It’s possible to wonder whether Valencia will attract sufficient new visitors to gain from all this without damaging attendance at the 1987 Palau de la Música, the Museo de Bellas Artes, and the Museo Nacional de la Ceramica. I can only say of this that I was drawn to Valencia primarily by pictures of the Ciudad and that, while there, I visited all these places. In spite of the high cost of going into the Oceanarium, there were huge crowds going in.

When I took bus no. 35 out to the Ciudad, it was solely with the intention of photography, and I was surprised to be tempted into the Oceanografic, particularly to find it worth 3.5 hours of my time! This doesn’t alter the fact that, for the rest of the Ciudad, photos speak louder than words – so that’s it.

The centerpiece which captures your eye (so to speak) is L'Hemisferic, which has the characteristics of a human eye. Opening in 1998, L'Hemisferic houses a planetarium, an IMAX theater, a cafeteria, and something called the Laserium. The "eyelid" which forms part of the outline of the structure was engineered to be opened and closed depending on weather conditions and security needs. During my visit, it was sunny and 70 degrees but the glass "eyelid" was closed.

The Museu de les Ciences Principe Felipe is designed to be an interactive science museum for young and old alike where you can "touch, think and feel" (quote from the glossy museum brochure). There are four levels of exhibits (paid admission) plus a soaring multi-level lobby area (free admission) with ticket and information booths, a cafeteria, and souvenir stands. A reflective pool surrounds these architectural elements and is meant to recall the former river.

The L'Umbracle is a garden promenade which rests atop and cleverly disguises a lowly parking garage. It is a peaceful oasis with palm trees, benches, and topped by a continuous trellis of repetitive arches. Calatrava's variety of architectural materials (blue tiles, white steel) interact with each other to add to the liveliness of the complex.

The ambitious future plan will include a diamond-shaped Palau de les Artes (to be used for theater, opera and dance) and L'Oceanografic, which is scheduled to be the largest oceangraphic center in Europe. The City of Arts and Sciences is a bit east of the old town center. A convenient bus to catch is bus line 95, which passes the central bus station and nearby the Alameda Bridge before its end stop across from the museum complex.