The Oceanografico Aquarium Valencia

The magnificent 21st Century Aquarium in Valencia's city of arts and sciences region is a triumph. Boasting eight distinct zones it is a great place to learn about and enjoy watching sea creatures.It is also a beautiful set of buildings in its own right and has been tastefully landscaped with lots of trees and hedging. The tropical region boasts two huge aquariums featuring a californan kelp forests. There is an underwater tunnel which at 70 metres long is the largest in europe. We particularly enjoyed watching the seahorses in the smaller tanks here. Outside, sealions and penguins played on rocks beside deep pools.

The real treat though is when you enter the oceans region and the massive shark pool which contains 7million litres of seawater and a diverse range of pelagic creatures including fearsome looking bull sharks. I could almost hear the cello player warming up.