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Walking through the historic heart of the city of Seville we suddenly come across a wooden structure. If we don’t know anything about this place, we wonder what is this kind of material doing in the centre of a hot city? If you want to answer this question and find out more about this peculiar place, come and join us!
During the 19th century in the Plaza de la Encarnación there was a large food market called Mercado de la Encarnación. Between 1948 and 1973 the market was demolished, due to an urban redevelopment of the area and the dilapidated state of the building. Almost 20 years later, after the site had become unusable, Seville City Council decided to build a large underground car park and another food market. During the excavation carried out for the car park, important archaeological remains were found.
In 2004, the Seville City Council launched a competition for the restoration of the Plaza de la Encarnación. The architect Jürgen Mayer designed an avant-garde building with a tourist function.
Work began in 2005, with the idea that it would be completed in 2007, but a setback delayed construction by three years. It was not until March 2011 that the structure was inaugurated by the mayor of the city at the time.
It is open from Monday to Sunday from 09:30 to 12:30.
On the other hand, the Plaza floor has no closing hours, and the ground floor has the closing hours of each establishment.
The price of the visit is €15 for the general admission. Students, people over 65, and groups of more than 20 people, people with a disability of more than 33%, large families and children from 6 to 14 years old, have a price of 12€. Finally, residents or people born in Seville (previously accredited with their ID), people with a disability of more than 65% and their companion, and children under 5 years old and tour guides, have free admission.
There is also a family promotion of 1 adult + 1 child 25€, 2 adults + 1 child 36€, 2 adults + 2 children 45€ and 2 adults + 3 children 55€.
Getting to the Seville Mushrooms is very easy, as it is 20 minutes from Puerta de Jerez, 15 minutes from the Cathedral and another 15 minutes from Plaza de Armas, from both sides on foot.
To get to Puerta de Jerez is very easy, we can go by metro line 1, bus lines 3, 21, 40, 41, C4, or EA, and even the San Bernardo – Plaza Nueva tram line.
To get to Plaza de Armas we can take lines 3, 6, 21, C3, C4, EA, or any bus of the Andalusian consortium that goes to other towns in the area.
If you don’t want to walk, you can go by bus to the Setas on lines 27 and 32.
Another possibility is to get there by taxi or uber, but it will cost around €10 from the furthest point.
On the other hand, if you are in the city for a week, you can take advantage of the fabulous cycle lane (180 km, one of the largest in Europe). For just €13.33 per person you can take one of the bikes offered by the Sevici service and use it for the duration of your stay.
Finally, if we want to move around the city with our own car, we have the possibility of parking in the different car parks in the city centre: Parking Imagen, a two-minute walk away, SABA Plaza, Parking de la calle Albareda, Aparcamientos Magdalena, or Parking Mercado del Arenal, among others.
This structure, the Metropol Parasol Project (better known as Las Setas), has the function of a pergola made of wood and concrete. It is located along the entire length of the Plaza de la Encarnación, i.e. 150 metres long, 70 metres wide, and 26 metres high.
The square has been converted into a place with four floors, the underground floor houses the Antiquarium Museum of Roman and Andalusian archaeological remains found. The second floor can also be accessed by lifts from this floor.
On the ground floor, at ground level, we find the current Mercado de la Encarnación and some shops and restaurants. Above these premises is a square called Plaza Mayor, designed to host a multitude of events. Finally, the second or top floor is located at the top of the structure, here we can stroll around while enjoying the views of the city of Seville, and have a drink and tapas restaurant.
Another curiosity is that in January 2013 this site was chosen as one of the five finalists for the Mies van der Rohe Contemporary Architecture Prize.
The inspiration for this characteristic design of avant-garde architecture, with its undulating appearance, was based on the vaults of the city’s cathedral and the Moreton Bay Higueras (trees located in another nearby square).
Take advantage of this magnificent opportunity to get to know Monumental Seville!
