Journey to the underwater world: the Valencia Oceanographic

It is the largest aquarium in Europe, as its specifications testify: 42 million litres of salt water, 45,000 individual creatures from 500 animal species. A true marine park that provides the opportunity to submerge oneself in the planet's major oceans and seas. And without leaving the city of Valencia.

The journey to the bottom of the sea begins as you go through the spectacular circular access building, a marvellous work of art in glass, by the architect Felix Candela. Through the door lies the Mediterranean habitat. Here you will succumb to the biological wealth of the its sea bed and the sounds belonging to the ancient Mare Nostrum.

The circuit continues through mangrove swamps and fens, before submerging you, literally, in the planet's temperate and warm seas as you enter the longest sub-aquatic tunnel in Europe, with a length of 70 metres. As you move through, you will see exotic turtles and sea lions, as well a world of curious species, such as the bowmouth guitarfish, the moon-fish or the horseshoe crab, which live at different latitudes in the Atlantic Ocean. 

The tunnel runs along the bottom of one of he worlds largest aquariums, with a volume of seven million litres of water and which imitates the marine currents that are followed by the fauna in the wild. There, grey and bull sharks live in harmony with rays and barracudas, all of which swim impressively above our heads. 

Dolls of the world

Finally, a little more than ten minutes by car from the aforementioned museum, you will reach the ancient settlement of Castell d’Aro. Since 1997 it has been possible to visit the Museum of Dolls, which has more than 400 exhibits made from ceramics, straw, cardboard, wood, plastic, fabric, leather, ivory and even animal horn or coconut shell, most of them donated by Josefina Teixidor and Neus Borrell. 

Finish up your visit with a look at the remodelled Castell d’Aro fortress, the historical artistic monument of the Sant Feliu de Guíxols Monastery or the family beaches located between these two sites.