The City of Arts and Sciences, Santiago Calatrava's futuristic complex, became Coruscant in season 2 of Andor (2025). Its white curves and the Hemisfèric also stood in for the sets of Tomorrowland (2015) and season 3 of Westworld (2020). Hard to believe it all rises from the drained former bed of the Turia river.
After the devastating Turia flood of October 1957, which submerged three quarters of the city, the river was diverted away from the centre. City leaders first planned to turn the dry riverbed into a highway, but public pressure won out: in 1986 it became the Jardín del Turia, a 9 km park snaking through Valencia.
For real chufa horchata, head to the Horchatería de Santa Catalina, beside the church of the same name and serving since the early 19th century. Book your City of Arts time slot online first thing in the morning: with a data eSIM you can compare queues and opening hours without hunting for wifi.