L'Hemisfèric

It's probably València's most recognisable image: a giant eye of concrete and glass reflected in a sheet of water that, at night, seems to open and look at the sky. L'Hemisfèric was Santiago Calatrava's first building in the City of Arts and Sciences, and inside that "eye of knowledge" is Spain's largest IMAX cinema and planetarium.

Why it's special

Opened in 1998, the whole design is a metaphor for the human eye, a symbol of wisdom and vision. The cinema's hemispherical dome acts as the "pupil," while a large movable steel-and-glass structure works as an "eyelid" that opens and closes using hydraulic lifts. The pool surrounding it isn't merely decorative: through its reflection it completes the shape of the whole eye, an effect that at night, under the lighting, is hypnotic.

What to see

• The immersive screenings on a concave screen of around 900 m², the largest in Spain, equipped for IMAX Dome, 3D digital cinema and digital shows.
• The planetarium, which plunges the audience into the cosmos beneath the great dome.
• The building itself: walk all the way around it to see it reflected from every angle.

Practical tips

Screenings last around 45 minutes and rotate through the day, so check the listings and choose a time when you buy. Admission is paid, and there are combined tickets with the Science Museum and the Oceanogràfic that save a fair amount if you plan to see several things. It's a great plan with children: slot it in with the guide on what to do in València with kids. You can reach it on foot or by bus through the Turia Gardens.

INSIDER TIP: even if you go in for a screening, the real free show is the building at dusk. When the lighting comes on and the water is still, the reflection in the pool draws the complete, open eye. It's the moment photographers wait for. Come at the blue hour, just after sunset, and circle the pool looking for the angle where the "pupil" and its reflection join. Before or after, stroll through the whole complex and, if you have time, head down to Gulliver Park or browse more free things to do in València.