Les Arts: A Virtual Tour

The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, designed by Santiago Calatrava (Valencia, 1951), is a stunning part of Valencia's City of Arts and Sciences.

Opened in 2005, the Palau boasts over 40,000 square meters, a height of 75 meters, and features several impressive performance venues: the Auditorium, the Main Hall, the Aula Magistral, and the Teatre Martín y Soler.

Its feather-shaped metal structure starts from a reinforced concrete pylon on the 56-metre-long access walkway. From the entrance, in the box office area, two symmetrical side corridors lead to the large lobby of the main hall.

It has cantilevered platforms at different heights, with walkways and vegetation, which can be accessed by panoramic lifts and stairs. The contrast between the opacity of the steel and the transparency of the windows creates a changing sensation when visiting the building.

While the material par excellence is white concrete, which covers the large structural supports of the building, the second most commonly used material is mosaic, which covers the spectacular roofs. It is made up of ceramic fragments bound together with mortar.

With a capacity of 1,412, this is the most emblematic room in Calatrava's majestic building. It is the venue for the opera, ballet and other performances that make up the Palau de les Arts' season. The auditorium has a spacious parquet floor and four rows of seats arranged in a horseshoe shape.

The Auditori can seat 1.490 spectators with excellent visibility in all seats. Its physical characteristics make it particularly suitable for symphonic concerts, film premieres, large conferences or congresses and special events.

Next to the Auditori, which are reached by a series of panoramic lifts, are the palm terraces. These offer a wonderful view of the city.

The Aula Magistral has a capacity of 378 people. This makes it ideal for smaller events. The stage is perfect for conferences, recitals, lectures or round-table discussions.

Located beneath the bed of the River Turia, this theatre, named after the 18th-century musician who was Valencia's most universal composer of all time, seats 400 people. The theatre usually hosts baroque opera and chamber music performances, and has an opera pit and all the latest stage equipment.

Another important space of Les Arts is the Los Toros Room, a large, bright and modern room divided into two levels. It is the anteroom of the Auditori and is sometimes used for gala dinners or special events.