The Queen Sofia Palace of the Arts (Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia) is an architecturally impressive venue and cultural center in Valencia. Praised for its innovations in design and acoustics, the immense 246-foot (75-meter) tall building hosts regular performances within its four halls and auditoriums. Explore interlinking gardens, pathways and water features in the spacious venue. Consider joining a tour to go behind the scenes.
Approaching the Queen Sofia Palace of the Arts, you’ll see the building’s unique design. The concept was created by the Valencia-born architect Santiago Calatrava and features a spaceship-like structure with a curved metallic roof. The 14-story building opened to the public in 2005 with a performance of Beethoven’s Fidelio.
Enter the building to explore its immense foyer. The venue primarily hosts symphonic concerts, vocal recitals and opera galas. If you are seeing an opera performance, you might take your seat in the Sala Principal. This main hall seats 1,470 patrons and has one of the world’s largest orchestra pits. Modern interpretations and performances are regularly held in the Auditorium, which is located upstairs. You might see special effects and video sequences in this 1,420-seat hall. The venue has two further halls, Aula Magistral and Martí i Soler Theatre, which are used for intimate recitals, chamber music performances and theatrical productions.
Go on a guided tour to learn about the building’s history and construction. While usually held in Spanish, the tours are a great way to explore the venue’s fascinating backstage area and spacious garden walkways. There are several bars and restaurants in the adjoining streets to the northwest of the venue, where you can enjoy a pre-show meal or a drink afterward.
The Queen Sofia Palace of the Arts is located alongside the extensive parklands of Parc Gulliver in the Montolivet district of Valencia. It is easy to reach by public bus and car. Walk to the venue within 25 minutes from the Valencia Nord major railway station. Reserve your tickets and guided tour online or at the venue’s box office.
