{"id":9657,"date":"2022-02-01T16:02:53","date_gmt":"2022-02-01T16:02:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/lonja-de-la-seda-valencia\/"},"modified":"2024-01-18T14:39:03","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T14:39:03","slug":"lonja-de-la-seda-valencia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/lonja-de-la-seda-valencia\/","title":{"rendered":"The Lonja de la Seda in Valencia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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

\n

\ud83d\udc4d The Captain’s tip \ud83d\udc4d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Want to learn more about Valencia’s history?<\/strong> To discover the city with a passionate tour guide, Captain Ulysses warmly recommends going on this free tour<\/a><\/mark>. You\u2019re free to choose how much you wish to tip the tour guide at the end of the tour!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want more info about Valencia\u2019s top landmarks, activities & museums? <\/strong>Why don\u2019t you check out the Captain\u2019s detailed article on the best things to do in the city: Guide to Valencia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Brief history of the Lonja de la Seda<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Valencia and the Silk Road<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the Middle Ages, Valencia became a major silk trade centre on the Old Continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 15th<\/sup> and 16th<\/sup> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the Lonja de la Seda in all this?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the 15th<\/sup> century, Valencia decided to build a Stock Exchange worthy of its reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The construction of the Lonja de la Seda (Silk Lodge in English), also called the Llotja dels Mercaders<\/em> (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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting the Lonja de la Seda<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lonja<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The facade of the Lonja de la Seda<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lonja<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The interior of the Lonja de la Seda<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 The orange garden<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Hidden behind the high walls of the Lonja de la Seda, the orange garden ( Pati dels Tarongers<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Lonja<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Lonja<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Lonja<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 The Tower<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The 3-story high quadrangular tower (Torre\u00f3n<\/em> in Valencian) stands between the Sala de Contratacion and the Tribunal del Mar. The ground floor once housed a chapel while the 1st<\/sup> and 2nd<\/sup> floors served as a prison for bad payers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take the time to admire the beautiful spiral staircase with no central axis: an architectural feat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 The Tribunal del Mar<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Built in the early 16th<\/sup> century in a distinctly Renaissance style, the Tribunal del Mar (aka the Sala del Consulat de la Mar<\/em> ) is an architectural gem, with its magnificent wooden coffered ceiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tribunal del Mar was an institution responsible for governing maritime and commercial affairs in Valencia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Lonja<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Lonja<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 The Sala de Contratacion<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

With its three naves, the Sala de Contratacion (Sala de Contractaci\u00f3<\/em> in Valencian, aka the Sal\u00f3 Columnari<\/em> \/ 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cI 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.\u201c<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The taula de canvis<\/em> (exchange table), where financial and banking transactions took place, was to be found in this very hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Lonja<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Lonja<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Lonja<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Access<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Getting to the Lonja de la Seda<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Lonja de la Seda is located in Valencia’s historic center, in Pla\u00e7a del Mercat, a 5-minute walk from Pla\u00e7a de la Reina and Valencia Cathedral<\/a>. It is located across from the church of the Juanes and the Mercado Central<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nearest metro stations are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n