La Llotja (The Market), Palma de Mallorca (must see)
La Llotja, the old Maritime Trade Exchange, is a masterpiece of bourgeois Gothic architecture. It may be found next to La Seu, or Palma Cathedral, on the Avenue Gabriel Roca. The Trade Exchange was founded in Barcelona by a privilege granted by King Marti I in 1403. The exchange moved to Mallorca in 1452 to be housed in La Llotja.
The Exchange regulated trade and maintained the port of Palma. Business transactions could be conducted in the la Llotja building. As maritime trade fell off, la Llotja became merely a goods depot. It was an arms factory and arsenal in the Napoleonic wars and after the factory, it was a courthouse. From 1886 to 1962 it was a museum.
Architect Guillem Sanear began construction in 1426. It was completed in 1447 by Guillermo Vilasolar. In 1452 the Maritime Trade Exchange moved in. During this time the building formed a part of the city's defense walls. Four towers were set up on the four corners of the cube-shaped building. The building was almost touched by the sea.
Inside is a single space. Two rows of twisted columns support a vaulted ceiling. Above the main entrance is a sculpture of The Angel of Merchants in the tympanum.
In the last thirty years the Llotja has been a center for art shows, events and political meetings. It has been recently restored and the roof is now a terraced flat roof. Groups may ascend to the roof with permission. It is open daily except Monday.
The Exchange regulated trade and maintained the port of Palma. Business transactions could be conducted in the la Llotja building. As maritime trade fell off, la Llotja became merely a goods depot. It was an arms factory and arsenal in the Napoleonic wars and after the factory, it was a courthouse. From 1886 to 1962 it was a museum.
Architect Guillem Sanear began construction in 1426. It was completed in 1447 by Guillermo Vilasolar. In 1452 the Maritime Trade Exchange moved in. During this time the building formed a part of the city's defense walls. Four towers were set up on the four corners of the cube-shaped building. The building was almost touched by the sea.
Inside is a single space. Two rows of twisted columns support a vaulted ceiling. Above the main entrance is a sculpture of The Angel of Merchants in the tympanum.
In the last thirty years the Llotja has been a center for art shows, events and political meetings. It has been recently restored and the roof is now a terraced flat roof. Groups may ascend to the roof with permission. It is open daily except Monday.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Palma de Mallorca. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
La Llotja (The Market) on Map
Sight Name: La Llotja (The Market)
Sight Location: Palma de Mallorca, Spain (See walking tours in Palma de Mallorca)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Palma de Mallorca, Spain (See walking tours in Palma de Mallorca)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Create Your Own Walk in Palma de Mallorca
Creating your own self-guided walk in Palma de Mallorca is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Palma de Mallorca Introduction Walking Tour
Before it became a Roman camp, the area called Palma was a Talaiotic settlement, a place of mysterious Bronze age megaliths. Even the Romans were mystified. In time the camps and the stones disappeared and the city of Palma formed.
The Romans were succeeded by Byzantines, pirates and Islamic rulers. The Muslim period extended from 902 to 1229. In December of 1229, after a siege of three months,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
The Romans were succeeded by Byzantines, pirates and Islamic rulers. The Muslim period extended from 902 to 1229. In December of 1229, after a siege of three months,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Historical Buildings Walking Tour
Fervent devotees of the past will undoubtedly find Palma de Mallorca's old town quite alluring for a chance to get closer to the island's culture and discover firsthand the unspoiled Mallorca as it once was. Indeed, the historic center of the city is ideal for an acquaintance with the local heritage richly presented in the form of multiple historic buildings.
Some of them, like the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Some of them, like the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles