Torre de la Seda (Llotja de la Seda)

The Torre de la Seda, the tower of the Silk Exchange, is one of the parts of the Llotja de la Seda in Valencia that is easiest to miss and most rewarding to notice. The complex has three main parts, and the tower, which has the form of a stout, castle-like block, connects the grand trading hall to the building where the maritime court met. Together they form the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Lonja de la Seda.

The tower is a plain, solid structure compared with the fanciful hall. It was built in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries as part of the same programme, between 1482 and 1533, and it is crowned with battlements that give a defensive look. The craftsmen's work is visible on the outside, in the cornices and the grotesque figures that jut out from the walls. A spiral staircase inside leads to the upper levels, where the city's merchants once held meetings and where, according to tradition, the tower was also used to hold merchants who failed to pay their debts. This unusual detail shows how seriously the guild of silk traders treated honesty in business.

The building next to the tower is the Consulate of the Sea, the Consolat de Mar, home to one of the oldest commercial courts in Europe, which settled disputes between sailors and traders on matters of shipping and trade. Its hall has a magnificent painted and gilded wooden ceiling, and the room has the feel of a place built to impress. Beside it, the Sala de Contratación, the main trading hall, has twisted stone columns that look like palm trees, and the Orange Tree Courtyard offers a place to rest outdoors.

The complex stands facing the Mercado Central, with its great iron and glass roof, and a few minutes' walk from Plaza de la Virgen and the cathedral. The Barrio del Carmen lies to the north. The area is lively, with market stalls, cafes and tapas bars. Visiting the tower and the court together gives a good sense of the commercial wealth that made Valencia a major Mediterranean port in the fifteenth century.

It suits history and architecture lovers, and it is a convenient stop while exploring the old town. Opening hours and ticket prices change, so check the official channels before going.