The Lonja de la Seda in Valencia

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, the Lonja de la Seda ( Llotja de la Seda in Valencian) ranks very high on the list of Valencia’s top tourist attractions.

Brief history of the Lonja de la Seda

Valencia and the Silk Road

In the Middle Ages, Valencia became a major silk trade centre on the Old Continent.

In the 15^th and 16^th centuries, at its peak, Valencia was a key staging post on the Silk Road and a first-rate trading center in Europe and throughout the Mediterranean basin.

And the Lonja de la Seda in all this?

In the 15^th century, Valencia decided to build a Stock Exchange worthy of its reputation.

The construction of the Lonja de la Seda (Silk Lodge in English), also called the Llotja dels Mercaders (the Merchants Lodge) began in 1483. Several architects colloborated to the project, including famous Catalan architect and engineer Pere Compte, who had already participated in the expansion of Valencia Cathedral.

The work was completed in 1498 and the Lonja de la Seda became a major meeting place for merchants, serving all at once as a stock exchange, a bank and a gathering place.

Visiting the Lonja de la Seda

In the historic center, located across from the Marcado Central, the Lonja de la Seda is one of the finest examples of civil Gothic architecture in Europe.

The building, which spreads over an area of nearly 2,000 square meters, is made up of three parts: the Tribunal del Mar, the central tower and the Sala de Contratacion (The Contract Hall), plus the Orange Garden.

The facade of the Lonja de la Seda

With its tower and its high walls surmounted by crenellations, the Lonja de la Seda looks very much like a Gothic castle rather than like a stock exchange. The building is decorated with gargoyles, moldings and Renaissance-style medallions.

The interior of the Lonja de la Seda

👉 The orange garden

Hidden behind the high walls of the Lonja de la Seda, the orange garden ( Pati dels Tarongers in Valencian) is a refreshing oasis in the heart of the city. Captain Ulysses can only recommend lingering around the star-shaped fountain to enjoy its coolness.

👉 The Tower

The 3-story high quadrangular tower (Torreón in Valencian) stands between the Sala de Contratacion and the Tribunal del Mar. The ground floor once housed a chapel while the 1^st and 2^nd floors served as a prison for bad payers!

Take the time to admire the beautiful spiral staircase with no central axis: an architectural feat.

👉 The Tribunal del Mar

Built in the early 16^th century in a distinctly Renaissance style, the Tribunal del Mar (aka the Sala del Consulat de la Mar ) is an architectural gem, with its magnificent wooden coffered ceiling.

The Tribunal del Mar was an institution responsible for governing maritime and commercial affairs in Valencia.

👉 The Sala de Contratacion

With its three naves, the Sala de Contratacion (Sala de Contractació in Valencian, aka the Saló Columnari / the Hall of Columns) is the highlight of the Lonja de la Seda. The ceiling, made up of cross-ribbed vaults, is supported by twenty-four 17.4 meters high twisted pillars, making the hall look like a palm grove.

A frieze runs along the four walls, just below the vaults. The frieze features a quotation in Latin inscribed in golden letters and reminding merchants of their duties:

“I am an illustrious house built in fifteen years. Try and See, fellow-citizens, how negotiation is such a good thing when there is no lie in the speech, when it swears to the neighbour and does not deceive him, when it does not lend money with an interest charge for its use. The merchant who acts this way will prosper galore and at the end he will enjoy the eternal life.“

The taula de canvis (exchange table), where financial and banking transactions took place, was to be found in this very hall.

Before leaving the Sala de Contratacion, don’t forget have a look at the black and white marble slabs forming a series of six-pointed stars on the ground.

Access

Getting to the Lonja de la Seda

The Lonja de la Seda is located in Valencia’s historic center, in Plaça del Mercat, a 5-minute walk from Plaça de la Reina and Valencia Cathedral. It is located across from the church of the Juanes and the Mercado Central.

The nearest metro stations are:

• Colón, 900 meters to the southeast
• Xàtiva, 750 meters to the south
• Àngel Guimerà, 650 meters to the southwest

For information, the Valencia Tourist Card includes unlimited access to public transport. To get around Valencia, you can also opt for a hop-on hop-off bus tour or rent bikes.

If you are driving, you’ll find an underground parking lot at Valencia’s Mercado Central, a stone’s throw from the Lonja de la Seda.

Opening hours

The Lonja de la Seda is open Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays.

A stamp and coin market is also held in the Lonja de la Seda every Sunday.

Admission

Admission is €2 full price, €1 reduced price. Access to the Lonja de la Seda is free on Sundays and public holidays.

Guided tours of the Lonja de la Seda

If you want to learn more about the silk trade in Valencia, Captain Ulysses recommends opting for a guided tour which includes a visit to the Lonja de la Seda, the Silk Museum, the Velluters district and the emblematic store Albaes Indumentaria Valenciana.

👉 For more information: Guided tour to discover the silk trade in Valencia (available in Spanish and English)

👉 Skip the lines: book your tickets and visits in Valencia!

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