La Lonja de la Seda

- Llotja de la Seda, Silk Market, Plaça del Mercado


La Lonja de la Seda (Llotja in Valencian), the former Silk Market, is a historic gothic building that is very popular to visit because of it's large proportions and cathedral like architecture. It was built between 1482 and 1548. For a small fee you can visit its courtyard -the Orange Garden (with lots of orange trees), the main hall, Sala de Contratacion, with its vaults, chandeliers and mosaic windows that make it look like a cathedral, the other rooms and the basement. The building might look large from the outside, but you can easily explore the whole building in less then 30 minutes. La Lonja is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. The architecture of La Lonja de la Seda was inspired by a similar silk market in Palma de Mallorca. Pavilion of the Consulate, at the side wing, was the first merchant tribunal to be found in Spain.

La Lonja de la Seda 01 - the historical gothic building that used to host the Silk Market La Lonja de la Seda - exterior towards Plaza del Mercado La Lonja de la Seda 05 La Lonja de la Seda 06 La Lonja de la Seda 07 La Lonja de la Seda 08 La Lonja de la Seda 09 La Lonja de la Seda 10 La Lonja de la Seda 11 - the courtyard garden La Lonja de la Seda 12 - the courtyard La Lonja de la Seda 13 - the courtyard La Lonja de la Seda 14 La Lonja de la Seda 15 La Lonja de la Seda 16 La Lonja de la Seda 17 - the stained cathedral like windows La Lonja de la Seda 18 La Lonja de la Seda 19 La Lonja de la Seda 20 - the large vaulted hall looks like a cathedral La Lonja de la Seda 21 - Sala de Contratacion La Lonja de la Seda 22 - Sala de Contratacion La Lonja de la Seda 23 La Lonja de la Seda 24 La Lonja de la Seda 25 La Lonja de la Seda 26 La Lonja de la Seda 27 La Lonja de la Seda 28 - courtyard La Lonja de la Seda 29 - courtyard La Lonja de la Seda 30 - basement La Lonja de la Seda 31 - basement La Lonja de la Seda 32 - upper floor La Lonja de la Seda 33 - ceiling, upper floor La Lonja de la Seda 34 - upper floor La Lonja de la Seda 35 - upper floor La Lonja de la Seda 36 -upper floor La Lonja de la Seda 37 La Lonja de la Seda 38 - the courtyard La Lonja de la Seda 39 - orange trees in the courtyard La Lonja de la Seda 40 La Lonja de la Seda 41 - upper floor Iglesia de los Santos Juanes (St John's Church), a gothic church opposite La Lonja de la Seda La Lonja de la Seda 42 La Lonja (left) from Torres de Serranos.