La lonja de la seda is a peculiar WHS, especially for Spain, where single monument WHS are a rarity. There is good reason for this. The rest of valencia, though beautiful is not really WHS worthy. As such to represent the city, once Capital (de facto) of the Crown of aragon, the city hall chose one monument: la lonja de la seda. La llotja was built between the 15th and 16th century in levantine gothic (based on la llotja dof la palma) with some renaissance influences. The building is quite modest in size and inside decoration. Its main attractive is the spectacular "sala de contratacion" with its spiral columns. The ceiling from la sala de contrataciones is another highlight. What really sold Unesco on the building was its overall conservation state. The building has been in almost continuous use as a mercantile institution since its founding. As such it has been taken care off remarkably well. apart from a few additions in the 19th century and the loss of the original paint job, it looks basically the same as when it was built.

Icomos recommends, in their now ancient report, that a study of mercantile builidings along the mediterranean be done. However it also notes that given its amazing preservation and "outstanding intrinsic artistic qualities" the inscription of the llotja should not be deferred.

so... what did I think of the building? it's pretty small and not as breathtaking as I imagined. Forget a forest of columns, the sala de contratación has a total of 8 pillars, which are admittedly very impressive. The ceiling from the consulat is pretty but not that unique. I've seen much better elsewhere in spain. Overall I did not feel the building represented as much as the report claimed, afterall its a pretty quick visit. On the other hand, I haven't seen a better example of a mercantile institution from this age in the mediterranean, so it might be that special. Perhaps my issue with the proposal is that it pivots between representing two ideas: the city of Valencia (which imo is not enough to get WHS status) and the rise of commerce in the mediterranean in the 15th century (which the llotja might not be qualified to wholly represent). I for one would've welcomed a serial approach including the llotja from la palma or even other buildings from valencia like the city gates and the grau.