Bombas Gens Centre d'Arts Digitals

Far from the tourist trails, in the working-class district of Marxalenes, an old Art Deco factory has become an unusual cultural space. Bombas Gens Centre d'Arts Digitals occupies a 1930s factory that once manufactured hydraulic pumps, now transformed into the city's first permanent centre devoted to digital and immersive art.

History and what makes it special

The building was constructed between 1930 and 1935 to the design of Valencian architect Cayetano Borso di Carminati, with the elegant geometry of Art Deco, plant motifs and undulating forms on its façade. The factory also hides two survivals from very different eras: a Civil War air-raid shelter, a reminder of when mortar munitions were made here, and a perfectly restored 15th-century wine cellar, a vestige of the old farmstead on which everything grew. Industrial past, historical memory and cutting-edge technology coexist under the same roof.

What to see

• Over 2,500 m² of exhibitions across four warehouses, with virtual reality, augmented reality and a 360° immersive space.
• What is billed as the largest metaverse room in Europe.
• The Art Deco building itself, the air-raid shelter and the 15th-century cellar, all visitable on the guided tours.

Practical tips

It's in Marxalenes, a little away from the centre: easy to reach by bus or metro and then a short walk, perfect to combine with a visit to the nearby Marxalenes Park. Admission to the digital experiences is paid; it's worth checking the programme and the guided-tour times before you go, because the immersive shows rotate. Set aside at least a couple of hours if you want to try the virtual reality calmly.

INSIDER TIP: don't stop at the screens. What many visitors don't expect is how moving it is to go down into the air-raid shelter and step into the medieval cellar: ask at reception about the tours that include the building's historic heritage, because the contrast between the war's mortar bombs and the metaverse is, in itself, the venue's finest work. Afterwards, extend the day with a walk around the neighbourhood and discover more places and secrets off the usual trails; our guide on what to do in València offers more ideas.