The Monument of Controversy: Las Setas de Sevilla

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Las Setas de Sevilla (Wild Mushrooms of Seville), or also known as the Metropol Parasol, is a large wooden structure located in the old city center, at Plaza de la Encarnación.

As you make your way towards it, you will be impressed by the sheer size and height of the structure, and also surprised by what’s hidden underneath.

The structure consists of six parasols standing on concrete columns and has a size of 150 by 70 meters, with a height of approximately 60 meters.

It is said to be the largest wooden structure in the world.

It is spread out on several levels, with ancient Roman ruins and antiquarium located 5 m below the surface, and restaurants and bars on the upper levels.

The top of the structure features a 250 m long walkway offering stunning panoramic views of the city, best enjoyed at sunset time.

Let me take you for a little tour!

(if you’ve already decided you’re coming here, there is practical visitor information at the end of the article)

Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain

A bit of History

Las Setas de Sevilla was built in a place of historic importance. The square was home to a medieval convent, which had to be demolished due to structural issues, and turned into a marketplace.

The square was fenced off for over 40 years before the local council announced a competition for a new design that would bring the space back to life.

The winner was a German architect Jürgen Mayer, who came up with an original design that was thought to respect the historic importance of the area while providing an innovative design for the city.

Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain

Ongoing Controversy

Las Setas de Sevilla is a source of controversy to this date, due to a number of reasons.

The building took over 5 years to complete and costed the city nearly twice as much as originally budgeted (from 50 million euro to some estimates coming close to 100 million euro).

The appearance of the structure is something that leaves many visitors puzzled (myself included).

When modern futuristic architecture lands in a historic part of the city, the results will be always a bit of a gamble, and for me, this is certainly the case.

If you look at the aerial shots of the square, the building looks like it’s just been photoshopped there, it looks completely out of place.

Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain
Setas de Sevilla, Spain

It’s hard to judge from the photos, and best to make a trip there yourself to draw your own conclusion.

For one, it’s certainly worth visiting for the views and the ancient treasures underneath.

Las Setas de Sevilla

Opening Hours: Winter hours (November to March): Monday to Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Summer hours (April to October): Monday to Sunday from 09:30 to 01:30

Tickets: general rate 5 eur for adults, kids up to 6 years old free. Get your tickets online, or buy on the spot (ticket office is downstairs by the escalator)

Experiences: Immersive Day experience (Mirador, Feeling Sevilla, APP) 10 eur, Immersive Night Experience 15 eur (same as day + Mirador Noche Aurora)

Most Popular Experiences in Seville

Here are some highlights you can experience while staying in Seville.

Explore More in Seville

Visiting the Seville Cathedral & Giralda Tower

Best Day Trips from Seville (Complete Guide)

Seville Cathedral Tickets: Top Tips To Save Money & Time

The Foodie’s Guide: Best Restaurants in Seville

Your Detailed Guide to Visiting the Royal Alcazar of Seville

How to See Seville in One Day: The Perfect Itinerary for All Highlights

The Venice of Spain: Plaza de España, Seville

Southern Spain Travel Tips

BEST CAR RENTAL

To rent a car, I highly recommend Discover Cars, an award winning price comparison site for car rentals.

BUS & TRAIN TICKETS

To get the cheapest bus or train tickets, take a look at Omio to find the timetables and prices.

LOCAL TOURS

Local travel companies offer many day trip options from almost all the destinations in Southern Spain. You can check them out here.

HOTELS

I have been using booking.com for all my trips in Spain and abroad, and it’s the best place to book your hotel.

LUGGAGE STORE

If you would like to leave your luggage behind to explore the city on your last day, you can use Radical Storage service, which lets you book luggage storage in all the destinations in Spain.

LOCAL SIM CARD

If you want to avoid surprising extra charges from your operator, you can use a service like Airalo, where you can buy digital packs for e-sim cards.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – if you decide to book using one of the links, I will earn a small commission that helps me run this site. This is at no extra cost to you.

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Author
Lucia is a founder and travel writer at Viva La Vita. She has been living on Costa del Sol in Southern Spain (Fuengirola) since 2020. She helps travellers plan the perfect trip to Spain thanks to her local insights, practical tips and unique insider perspective complemented by original photography.

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