Mushrooms of Seville
I don’t think I knew this structure existed until I stumbled across it and my eyes couldn’t really believe it. A giant honeycomb or waffle? An alien spaceship? What council would grant planning permission for such a monstrosity in the centre of the old town? Of course, I loved it.
I couldn’t remember its name but assumed it was the waffle. It wasn’t. It was initially called Metropol Parasol but apparently the architect, Jürgen Mayer, had registered the rights to the name and would charge for its use. So now it’s known by its nicknames, the Setas de Sevilla (Mushrooms of Seville), las Setas, setas de la Encarnación (mushrooms of Encarnación square) or Mushrooms of the Incarnation.Whatever its name, the structure was iconic before it was even built. It’s best experienced from the top, 26 metres above ground level and accessible by lift, where the views of the city are wonderful and I felt like I was floating on a honeycomb cloud.
The Mushrooms of Seville, completed in 2011, is said to be the biggest wooden structure in the world, and is made up of six mushroom or parasol shapes supported by two concrete pillars. Who would have guessed that mushrooms would become as iconic as Seville’s oranges, barbers and cigars?