La Lonja (La Llotja)

Originally designed by Guillem Sagrera (by a Jaime I the King requirement), a well known arquitecht in Mallorca, this builing is one of the main examples of the civil Gothic in the island and its initial purpouse was to be a place to held commercial transactions.

When looking La Lonja from its front face side first you will notice are the twin turrets and an angel over the door. This 15^th century building looks half-castle, half-church but in fact it's neither of these. Finished by Guillem Vilesclars and Miquel Sagrera, the works started in 1420 and were finished in 1452. This really seems pretty fast for the epoque it was built, when usually those constructions used to take much more time to be completely finished.

Its design continues the tradition of the Catalan Gothic, comprising one large area divided by columns in to three sections. La Lonja was a model for an important number of buildings with the same function, mainly in Valencia, in the mainland.

Now La Lonja is a cultural centre, hosting art and cultural exhibitions and when not it is simply closed.

La Lonja

Plaza La Lonja - Paseo Sagrera s/n
Palma's seafront, next to the Cathedral.
Opens Tuesday to Saturday (when an exhibition is held there)
Visiting hours: 11:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 21:00
Tel +34 971 71 17 05