Discover the City of Arts and Sciences with Me, Your Tour Guide in Valencia

The City of Arts and Sciences is the avant-garde symbol par excellence that should not be missed during your visit to Valencia. Located in the former bed of the Turia River, this striking architectural landmark stretches across nearly two kilometers of green space that transformed the city following the historic diversion of the river in 1957.

The complex was designed primarily by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, in collaboration with Félix Candela. Construction began in 1996 and progressed in phases until its completion in 2009. Its signature style combines white structures with organic shapes inspired by nature, beautiful trencadís finishes (traditional broken ceramic tile mosaics), and expansive bodies of water surrounding most of the buildings.

The Buildings of the City of Arts and Sciences

Building	Architectural concept	What will we discover?
Hemisfèric	Giant human eye-shaped design	The IMAX projection hall and planetarium
Museu de les Ciències	Structure evoking a whale skeleton	The grand interactive science discovery space
Oceanogràfic	Spectacular marine-inspired roof design	The largest aquarium in Europe
Palau de les Arts	Majestic avant-garde landmark	The local opera house and performing arts venue
Umbracle & Ágora	Landscaped promenade and covered hall	The botanical garden viewpoint and cultural event space

Facade of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, designed by Santiago Calatrava

Why explore this complex with an official local guide?

As an official tour guide in Valencia, I always say that walking through this site goes far beyond taking photos in front of its facades. To truly understand the engineering feats, the major urban transformation it meant for Valencians, and the hidden stories behind the complex, I invite you to join me on my guided tours in Valencia.

Interior of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, designed by Santiago Calatrava

I am Louis Cornu, and my goal is to give you an insightful yet engaging perspective. French is my native language and I work as a French-speaking tour guide in Valencia, designing guided tours in Valencia in French, English, or Spanish, completely customized for you, your partner, family, or group of friends.

The Pont de l'Assut de l'Or

If you want a tour guide in Valencia to turn your walk into a personal and unforgettable experience, call me to schedule your visit. You can also write to me on WhatsApp, send me an email, or leave your details in the contact form on my website: explore-valencia.com.