Major contemporary names
Kapoor, Gursky, Twombly, Eliasson — much of it made for the building.
Jlafuentesanchez — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Enric — CC BY-SA 4.0 · 19Tarrestnom65 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · 19Tarrestnom65 — CC BY-SA 4.0
A contemporary art centre opened in 2023 in the Palacio Valeriola in old central Valencia, after a restoration lasting years. The collection is private and holds work by major contemporary international names — Anish Kapoor, Andreas Gursky, Cy Twombly, Olafur Eliasson and others — with many pieces made specifically for the building's spaces. What makes the visit distinctive is what emerged during the restoration: archaeological remains from Valencia's successive layers were found beneath the palace, among them part of the Roman circus that ran through here. Those remains are integrated into the visitor route, so you descend from a contemporary art gallery onto a Roman floor. That stacking — Roman beneath palace beneath contemporary art — is not something you often find. The centre is new and its reputation is growing fast, so booking ahead is advisable, particularly on holidays. The ticket is higher than Valencia's public museums because it is a private institution.
Kapoor, Gursky, Twombly, Eliasson — much of it made for the building.
A Roman floor beneath a palace beneath contemporary galleries.
The building itself brought back after years of work.
Palacio Valeriola, old central Valencia
If contemporary art interests you, clearly yes: the collection is internationally strong rather than regional, and the works made for the spaces make the visit different from a hung exhibition. Add the Roman remains, which you will not find in another art centre.
The two are at opposite ends of Valencia and entirely different: the City of Arts is Calatrava's vast architectural complex with a science museum and aquarium, needing half a day to a day. This centre is in the old city and needs two hours. Give each a different day.
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