La Lonja de la Seda

"Light streams between a forest of spiraling stone columns. Each support twists upward, branching into a delicate web of ribbed groin vaults overhead. This airy—seemingly weightless—volume exalts Valencia’s commercial hub, unique to its time. A Renaissance Treasure: Valencia’s hub of commerce during the 15th-century silk trade boom— As a prime trade point on the Mediterranean, the new, more glorious Silk Exchange was built to impress. La Lonja de la Seda (La Llotja de la Seda in Valenciano, the regional dialect), named for the city’s most important silk trade and merchant guild, was Valencia’s only building devoted to its prosperous mercantile transactions. The site combines 4 sections: THE TRADE HALL: Deals were made in the grand Gothic-style Hall of Columns (Contract Room), which sits on about half the site. THE TOWER: A large stone archway opens into the tower’s ground level chapel beneath two floors of merchant jails. THE CONSULATE: The long, narrow more Renaissance-style third section used to administer two levels of maritime and commercial law at the other end. THE COURTYARD: An enclosed central Courtyard of Orange Trees completes the site’s rectangular shape. Trees burst with Valencian oranges as we walked along garden pathways."

"✏️The building was originally used as a center for the silk trade, which was an important industry in Valencia. It has a large central hall known as Sala de Contratación or Sala de Contracte, which was used for negotiations between merchants. The hall is surrounded by a series of smaller rooms and spaces. 💲Prices: 2 euros Sundays and public holidays: free 🕘Opening hours: Monday-Saturday: 10:00 - 19:00 Sundays and public holidays: 10:00 - 14:00"

"Normally, there is a 2€ entry fee for this museum right next to the Central Market. However, you can enter free of charge on Sundays until 2 PM. This must be Valencia's most beautiful Gothic Building, be sure to check it out!"