The Lonja de la Seda, also called Llotja de la Seda in Valencian (meaning Silk Exchange in English) is a Mediaeval trading centre and one of the key examples of Valencian Gothic civil buildings.

The Mediterranean Gothic, a style peculiar to the region, reverberates in the halls of the building. In a display of elongated and evocative lines, intricate shapes and decorations, allegorical carvings and bas-reliefs, the building speaks to its architects’ devotion to the craft.

The complex is representative of the power and wealth held by Valencia’s emerging merchant class in the 15th century. At that time, the city was becoming one of the most important Mediterranean mercantile centres. It was precisely this condition that allowed for the project of such an imposing building to be conceived.

As meticulously detailed as the façade is, it still does not do justice to the striking architecture and stone masonry that awaits inside the Silk Exchange. The columns and staircases will surprise you in their resemblance to natural shapes. The walls, doorways, windows, and ceilings will amaze you with their painstakingly detailed decorations.

Serpentine figures and tormented faces hide in every corner of the structure. Thousands of stone eyes follow those that walk the halls of the Lonja, belonging to sometimes grotesque, sometimes frightening, and some other times, enigmatic figures.

You can find this UNESCO World Heritage site right in the heart of Valencia’s Old Town, in front of the Central Market. Because of its extremely central position, the Lonja can be part of any itinerary that passes by the city centre.

Discounts and free entry may apply, including in the case of the Valencia Tourist Card.