La Lonja de la Seda

The city of Valencia has so many historic buildings that it is difficult to choose just one. However, from Sea You Hotel we have a soft spot for some of them. Among these is the Lonja de la Seda, which we are going to talk about below.

The Lonja de la Seda (in Valencian Llotja de la Seda), also known as the Lonja de los Mercaderes (Merchant's Exchange), is one of the symbols of the importance of Valencia in the 15th century (Valencian Golden Age) and its commercial splendor.

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996, the Lonja was built at the end of the 15th century as the city's trading center. At that time, the silk trade was so relevant, with more than 20,000 people dedicated to the sector, that the initially called Lonja de los Mercaderes became known as the Lonja de la Seda. This name has been kept as a tribute to such an important industry in Valencia for centuries.

Located in the heart of the city, it was conceived as a replacement for the old market which was already insufficient for the city's commercial activity. The textile trade made Valencia a commercial center of the Mediterranean, and the Lonja was a sign of this economic power.

The Lonja is one of the most characteristic architectural treasures of Valencia. Designed by Pere Compte (disciple of the architect of the original project, Francesc Baldomar) and inspired by that of Palma de Mallorca, it is an excellent representation of the European civil Gothic style.

It occupies a rectangular area of almost 2,000 square meters and is divided into three sections: the Contract Hall, the Tower and the Consulado del Mar Pavilion, in addition to the garden or orange tree patio.

The Contract Hall, the heart of the Lonja, is a vast hall where commercial transactions were carried out. To convey this grandeur, it has eight helical columns that simulate trees, symbolizing the prosperity and growth of commerce. These columns support the 17.5-meter-high ribbed vaults, which give the room its monumentality. On the walls you can read some inscriptions in Latin that recall the duty of merchants not to act with greed.

The Tower, adjoining the Contract Hall, housed the prison where merchants who did not pay their debts were locked up, as well as a chapel dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. Currently it cannot be visited due to lack of conditioning.

Finally, the Consulado del Mar was the space where commercial trials were held. This institution was one of the first to regulate maritime trade in the Mediterranean. Architecturally, it has a rectangular floor plan and a Renaissance style.

The facade of ashlar stone, the sculptures and gargoyles, as well as the proportions of the doors and windows, reflect the splendor of the time.

You cannot leave Valencia without visiting the Lonja de la Seda. You will like it whether you are a lover of architecture or history. It evokes a glorious past and remains a symbol of Valencian identity that shows the refined artistic taste of the Valencian bourgeoisie.

To visit it, you can do so from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sundays and holidays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The ticket price is 2 euros (1 euro reduced admission), and on Sundays and holidays it is free.