3 days in Valencia, Spain -12/11/18 - 12/14/2018
Day 2-Streets of Valencia/Silk Exchange-12/12/2018
After the market we just continue to walk around town...
Lots of nice apartments close to the market.
They are well maintained.
Silk Exchange building (La Lonja)
La Lonja de Mercaders (Merchant hall) also known as the Silk Exchange is a Gothic civil building located from walking distance to the Market.
The building was built between 1482 and 1548 and symbolize the strength and the wealth of the Golden age of Valencia in the 15th century. The building was originally used for trading in silk and it has always been a center for commerce. It is a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture. It shows the extent of the commercial revolution during the late Middle Ages, of social development and the prestige achieved by the Valencian bourgeoisie. In 1996, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Gargoyles on the roof top.
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La Lonja de Mercaders sign in front of the building with history description of the building.
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The building has many doors: Bronze Door on the left and wooden door on the right.
When you walk in the building you have to go through the orange garden courtyard (Patio de los Naranjos)
Fountain in the middle of the courtyard.
Mature Oranges trees inside the courtyard.
Close view of the fountain.
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As you walk in the first thing you see is this grandiose, and impressive room with a tall vaulted ceiling supported by 8 columns, called the Contract room or silk box.
This is the main room in the building.
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This room is so huge and these pictures does not give you the feel of how big this room is.
Ceiling details.
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Video room showing the history of the building. You can sit here at watch the video.
Ceiling details.
It is a revolving video that continue to project the history of the building.
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Doors and bench around the room.
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Hall way leading to the courtyard |
Window with the view of the courtyard. |
Entrance of the chapel in the Basement. |
This used to be Chapel located in the basement but it is totally empty now.
Huge plaque dedicated to Pere Compte, an architect and master builder of the Valencia Cathedral and he is credited with expanding the first section of the nave. His most important work is the this building.
That conclude our tour here and we are on our way out...
Details on the upper part of the all inside the courtyard.
Next.....Church of Sant Juan del Mercat
