Housed inside Valencia’s Colegio del Arte Mayor de la Seda (The College of High Silk Art) is the city’s prestigious Valencia Silk Museum. The Valencia Silk Museum is dedicated to documenting and detailing Valencia’s rich history and legacy of silk. Visit the museum to learn about how silk first came to Valencia, why its production rose to prominence, and how it's made. You can also admire the museum’s vast collection of antique silk looms and garments.
The silk industry played an essential role in Valencia’s commercial activity for several centuries. Valencia’s silk industry initially exploded in the 15th century, with a large portion of the population being employed in the production of the luxurious material. The building in which the museum is located, the Colegio del Arte Mayor de la Seda, dates back to the 15th century and was declared a national historical monument in 1981.
Inside the historic building, we recommend visiting the Hall of Fame (El Salón De La Fama), the main room where the institution’s leaders used to meet. The room has an impressive ceiling fresco by renowned Valencian painter José Vergara and an elaborate ceramic floor designed to represent the four continents known at the time. You’ll also find a chapel (La Capilla) decorated with green and white tiles which create an optical illusion on the floor, as well as a historical archive containing documents of great importance to the guild and Valencia’s silk trade history.
You might want to join one of the guided tours at the Valencia Silk Museum to get the most out of your visit. There is also a museum shop where you can purchase silk goods such as scarves, ties, bags, and more.
