Overview

In January, I took a short break to escape the cold and rain, spending a long weekend in Valencia, Spain. One of my main reasons for choosing this destination was to finally visit the City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela—somewhere I’d wanted to photograph for a long time.

I dedicated an entire day to exploring and shooting the complex, moving through it gradually rather than rushing between locations. I began at L’Oceanogràfic, then worked my way toward L’Àgora and the Science Museum, continuing past L’Umbracle and L’Hemisfèric, before heading under the Montolivet bridge and finishing at the Queen Sofía Palace of the Arts.

As someone with a strong appreciation for modern architecture, the experience was visually intense in the best possible way. Every structure offered something different—lines, curves, reflections, and repeating forms that constantly drew the eye. From a photographer’s perspective, it was almost overwhelming at times, with no shortage of compositions to explore.

Spending the entire day there allowed me to observe how the buildings transformed with the light. Harsh daylight emphasised structure and contrast, while shifting shadows added depth and dimension throughout the afternoon. As the sun began to set, the complex gradually softened, with subtle tones giving way to artificial light, completely changing the atmosphere and opening up new photographic opportunities.

I was also glad to be visiting outside of peak tourist season. While the area was still active, it never felt overcrowded. It turned out to be a truly memorable and creatively rewarding day.