La Lonja is one of the most characteristic buildings in the city, as well as being one of the most famous civil Gothic monuments. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 5 December 1996.
The Lonja de Mercaderes is opposite the Central Market and the Temple of Santos Juanes and occupies a rectangular area of about 1990 square metres. The first stone was laid in 1492, although work began a year later and the main figure involved in the construction was Pere Compte.
La Lonja consists of three clearly differentiated sections and a garden or “orange tree courtyard”. The Colonnade Hall is divided into three longitudinal and five transversal naves. Its height of 17.40 m gives the columns a singular monumentality.
