This historical structure is the oldest and most emblematic building of the Universitat de València. It was the primary seat of the university from its foundation at the end of the 15th century until midway through the 20th century.

Its origin goes back to the year 1492, when the city’s General Council agreed to organize all higher studies, spread out until then, into a single area for General Study, and to assign the status of university to the institution. A series of houses and plots in the vicinity of Calle de la Nau were acquired, and the architects Pere Compte and Pere Bernia were selected to remodel the buildings. The first statutes or articles of association were drawn up in 1499. Shortly thereafter, a Papal Bull of 1501 and a royal charter of 1502 granted the status of university to the institution. To this day, the history of the Universitat de València and the history of the city have been inextricably linked.

This building, which currently houses the La Nau Cultural Center, was declared a national historic-artistic monument in 1981, highlighting the heritage and importance of the building and the need to invest in preserving it. It was fully renovated in 1999 to mark the 500th anniversary of the Universitat, redefining the architectural ensemble as a living and versatile cultural and academic space open to the people of Valencia.

In addition to serving as the institutional seat of the Universitat de València and of the Vice Rectory for Culture and Society, La Nau currently hosts a wide range of culture activities, including exhibitions, theater, music and film, and is a space for gatherings and debate. La Nao also houses the Historical Library and the offices of several university services, including those related to culture and heritage.