home

Metropol parasol in seville. Metropol Parasol is the most original attraction of Seville. Description of the cultural center

Metropol Parasol in Seville (Spain) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.

Hot tours to Spain
Tours for the New Year around the world

An attraction called Metropol Parasol (which can be very conditionally and approximately translated as a “city umbrella”) in Seville is designed for lovers of modern architecture and in general everything unusual, and there are quite a lot of them among tourists. Moreover, this design is really famous all over the world.

It is located on the Plaza de la Encarnacion, where the city market was located for a long time. When it was demolished to create an underground parking lot and a new market complex, it was discovered that there were remains of Roman buildings under the square. The construction was stopped, and the administration of Seville announced a competition for the creation of a new project with the preservation of Roman ruins. The competition was won by the famous German architect Jörgen Mayer-Hermann, the construction was completed in 2011. He later received a prestigious European architectural award for it.

The most interesting thing is that the Parasol is wooden, and now it is the largest wooden structure in the world.

This building in Seville is often called "Mushrooms" - because of the shape. Parasol is a complex of structures in the form of giant umbrellas (well, or mushrooms, one might say so), based on huge columns, communicating with each other and divided into four levels. It is 26 meters high, 150 meters long and 70 meters wide.

The most interesting thing is that the Parasol is wooden, and now it is the largest wooden structure in the world. For the construction of the Parasol, a Finnish birch tree was used. Of course, there are also metal elements in it - without them, the building would be too fragile, but there are not enough of them. It looks strange - futuristic and ecological at the same time.

The purpose of the Parasol is not only entertaining, but also functional. It is divided into four tiers. In the lowest, underground (it is called Antiquarium), Roman and Moorish ruins are open for inspection - this is a museum. At level 0 (this is street level) there is the Seville Central Market (a good place, by the way). On the roof of level 1, there is an open area for events, and levels 2 and 3 are viewing terraces that offer a wonderful view of the city.

It is worth climbing up to the observation terraces of Parasol. In addition to the view of the city, you can see how intricately made the whole building, how innovative and interesting it is. It has no analogues in the world.

Parasol

Practical information

Address: Sevilla, Plaza de la Encarnacion, 18, Metropol Parasol. The most convenient way to get here is by buses No. 27 and 32 (you need to go to the Plaza Encarnacion stop).

Opening hours of observation decks: on Friday and Saturday from 10:30 to 00:45, on other days from 10:30 to 23:45.

Museum opening hours: Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00, on other days from 10:00 to 20:00.

Ticket price: to the sites - 3 EUR, to the museum - 2 EUR, they must be bought separately.

Prices on the page are for November 2018.

The Plaza de la Encarnacion in ancient Seville is adorned with a very remarkable building, and in some respects simply outstanding - Metropol Parasol, a unique building, one of the largest wooden structures in the world.

When at the beginning of the new century they were going to build a garage here, no one knew yet that such an umbrella would be located in the Plaza de la Encarnación. The preliminary archaeological excavations have shown that there used to be an ancient Roman settlement on this site, in connection with which it was decided to radically change the future purpose of this place - they decided to make an archaeological museum, and with it open a whole complex, including a restaurant, a small market, walking paths on the roof and a terrace from where you can admire the views of the city.

The structure of the Metropol Parasol is made of wood with a polyurethane coating.

When Jurgen Meyer-Hermann completed the design and began building the Metropol Parasol, it caused a near-revolt of the locals in Seville. It was believed that the modern architectural design in the form of futuristic plants does not fit at all with the classical buildings of the old quarters of Seville. Despite the initial buzz, residents and visitors to Seville now consider the Umbrella to be one of the city's most significant landmarks.

Inspired by the vaults of the Cathedral of Seville (la Catedral de Sevilla) and the ficuses that grow in the Cristo de Burgos Square (la plaza del Cristo de Burgos), Meyer designed six “mushrooms” with cylindrical “legs” made of concrete blocks and gigantic jagged “ hats" from German and Finnish wood.

Due to its stunning size - 150 by 70 meters at a height of 26 meters, the "Metropol Umbrella" dominates the landscape of the central part of the city. It is the largest wooden structure in the world made entirely of wood. 8,000 wooden pieces were used (ordinary boards of various sizes and configurations), which were connected to each other with glue and steel fasteners. As a result, the "architectural nightmare" gave a magnificent fabulous result.

The complex began construction in 2006, opened in April 2011 and cost a whopping US$130 million.

Given its considerable size, the Umbrella, also known as the "Mushrooms of Encarnacion", serves a variety of purposes. On the ground floor there is a museum of ancient Roman and Moorish artifacts, on the ground floor there is a lively Central Market. After getting acquainted with ancient weapons and tasting local products in the market, you can go up to the terraces, which are located on two levels, offering stunning views of the city.

The Metropol Parasol, or the Metropol Umbrella, is actually a device for bringing life to the Plaza de la Encarnacion, which has been used as a car park for years and considered a dead spot against the city's more popular tourist destinations. The structure consists of six beach umbrellas in the shape of giant mushrooms, inspired by elements of the Cathedral of Seville and ficus trees in the nearby Plaza de Cristo de Burgo.

The beach umbrella includes a market, shops and a podium for concerts and events. The basement houses the Vault of Antiquities, where Roman and Moorish artifacts are displayed in the museum. There is an open public plaza on the rooftop designed for social gatherings. There are panoramic terraces, including a restaurant that offers one of the best views of the city center.

The huge center of leisure and culture "Metropol Parasol" took its place on Encarnacion Square (la plaza de la Encarnación), in the historical center of the Andalusian capital, next to baroque churches and crowded streets.

The colossal “mushroom” is divided into four zones: the Museum of Antiques (el Museo Antiquarium) in the basement, the traditional Food Market (el Mercado de Abastos) on the ground floor, the huge Main Square (la Plaza Mayor) on the top floor and a spacious observation deck on "mushroom hat", from which you can admire spectacular views of the city and its environs.

On the sign at the entrance to the Metropol Parasol, you can read that this center was inaugurated with the participation of the mayor of the city of Seville, Alfredo Sánchez Monteseirín (Alfredo Sánchez Monteseirín). The entertainment center and especially its incredible size has been repeatedly criticized. But the mayor of the city is confident that this project will give Seville a more modern look.

The historical core of the city was under the shadow of exotic architectural "umbrellas" of the multifunctional public center Metropol Parasol or "Metropolis Umbrella", called by the author of the project Jorgen Mayer "Cathedral without walls", and by local residents - "Mushrooms of Encarnacion".

The German architect, whose conceptual basis of creativity is the mystery and manifestation of protective patterns and ornaments, and commitment to the idea of wholeness and infinity of space, used his research as an architectural metaphor when developing the Metropol Parasol project. The outer patterned form of the futuristic building contains filled volumes on four levels.

This historical event is fully displayed in the Antiquarium archaeological museum, located on 4500 square meters of the underground level, through the glazed floor of which you can see the ancient ruins. The second floor is given over to the food market, which historically settled on this site in the middle of the 19th century. The third floor of the new shopping and entertainment center hosts concerts and sports matches, film and theater performances, fashion shows, exhibitions and other cultural events. The honeycomb structure of the mushroom cap roof is covered with winding footpaths that serve as magnificent lookouts for panoramic views of the Andalusian capital.

The materials used to build the community center, and especially their quantity, led the original building to the Guinness Book of Records, moreover, twice - the Metropol Parasol turned out to be the world's largest structure made of wood, and a huge amount of heavy-duty glue to hold the materials together made it the largest structure on glue. In order to avoid exposure to high temperatures and the release of harmful fumes, the glued wooden elements of the undulating umbrella roof, which smoothly “grows” from concrete bases, are “wrapped” with a protective layer of high-quality polyurethane coating.

A masterpiece of modern urban planning, Seville's modern social and entertainment center Metropol Parasol has already been called a cult place in Spain, attracting visitors not only with a wide range of services and entertainment, but also with unique archaeological finds and amazing abstract architecture by Jörgen Mayer's creative office.

On the streets of Seville, examples of almost all architectural styles are presented. So, modern design was embodied in the Metropol Parasol art object, whose name can be translated as “metropol umbrella”. According to many experts in the field of architecture, this is the largest structure in the world made of wood. Although, in fact, concrete elements were also used in the construction, which, by the way, gives rise to many discussions - the overspending of public funds spent on the beautification of the adjacent territory of the Plaza de la Encarnación is condemned.

Until 1973, this place was occupied by the market. In the 1970s, it was demolished, after which the square was empty for a long time, until a decision was made to equip underground parking under it, and reorganize the space for trade on the surface. However, soon after the start of construction, ruins from the Middle Ages and even the era of the Roman Empire were discovered, and work was stopped. After 15 years, the Seville authorities decided to return to the issue of improving the Plaza de la Encarnacion and announced a competition for architectural projects.

The victory was won by the Berlin bureau Arup, headed by the architect Jürgen Mayer. His idea was to erect a large building that would become an object of modern art and a cultural center, and could also accommodate the old market that existed here in order to attract the attention of tourists from all over the world. By the way, for this project, completed in 2011, Jürgen Mayer received several prestigious awards in the field of architecture.

Due to the unusual shape of the Metropol Parasol, it is often referred to as the "Seville Mushrooms". Indeed, the structure is similar to the structure of an umbrella or with several large mushrooms. The smooth curves of the vaults, resting on massive and wide round columns, are made of birch and represent a frame with square niches. They seem to expose the internal structure of the building. In general, Metropol Parasol looks very futuristic and original.

The four floors of the building serve different functions. The basement tier houses an exhibition of archeology, its exposition presents the very ruins found under the square and related to the periods of Roman and Arab rule in Seville. The first floor is dedicated to trade - now it is the main market of the city, where you can find the freshest farm products. One level above there is an open-air space that serves as a venue for various events. Finally, the two upper tiers share a restaurant and viewing platforms, which offer a beautiful view of the central districts of Seville. From here, the contrast between the ultra-modern construction of the Metropol Parasol and the historical buildings of one of the oldest cities in Spain is best seen.

The structure of the Metropol Parasol is made of wood with a polyurethane coating.

The complex began construction in 2006, opened in April 2011 and cost a whopping US$130 million.

The Metropol Parasol, or the Metropol Umbrella, is actually a device for bringing life to the Plaza de la Encarnacion, which has been used as a car park for years and was considered a dead spot against the city's more popular tourist destinations. The structure is made up of six parasols shaped like giant mushrooms, inspired by elements from the Cathedral of Seville and ficus trees in the nearby Plaza de Cristo de Burgo. The beach umbrella includes a market, shops and a podium for concerts and events. The basement houses the Vault of Antiquities, where Roman and Moorish artifacts are displayed in the museum. There is an open public plaza on the rooftop designed for social gatherings. There are panoramic terraces, including a restaurant that offers one of the best views of the city center.

The huge center of leisure and culture "Metropol Parasol" took its place on Encarnacion Square ( laplazadelaEncarnació n), in the historic center of the Andalusian capital, next to baroque churches and crowded streets.

The colossal “mushroom” is divided into four zones: Museum of Antiques (el Museoantiquarium) in the basement, traditional Food Market (el MercadodeAbastos) on the ground floor, the huge Main Square (la PlazaMajor) on the top floor and a spacious observation deck on the "mushroom cap" from which you can admire spectacular views of the city and its environs.

The materials used to build the community center, and especially their quantity, led the original building to the Guinness Book of Records, moreover, twice - the Parasol Metropole turned out to be the world's largest structure made of wood, and a huge amount of heavy-duty glue to hold the materials together made it the largest structure on glue. In order to avoid exposure to high temperatures and the release of harmful fumes, the glued wooden elements of the undulating umbrella roof, which smoothly “grows” from concrete bases, are “wrapped” with a protective layer of high-quality polyurethane coating.

The undoubted futuristic masterpiece of the Spanish Seville, attracting an increasing number of visitors, is the Metropol Parasol, or, as it is also called, the Seville Mushrooms, a wood-and-concrete structure.

The largest building of such a plan in the world, when visited in person, strikes the imagination of tourists. Metropol Parasol is located in the city center on the Square of the Incarnation, not far from others. This is one of the most original buildings in the range of modern architecture in Spain.

History of the Metropol Parasol in Seville

It is symbolic that it was the Square of the Incarnation (Plaza de la Encarnacion) that the Seville authorities decided to undergo reconstruction in the late 90s of the last century. Digging a foundation pit for a future underground parking has turned into an archaeological excavation of an ancient Roman ruined village with elements of ancient mosaics. And for the preservation of the artifact, as well as for the possibility of further visits to the object by tourists, it was announced architectural ideas competition on the international level. Its prerequisites included:

the reliability of the building;
its versatility;
the symbolism of the connection of times;
aesthetics of integration into the face of Seville.

The Metropol Parasol project, presented by the German architect Jürgen Hermann Mayer, was selected from 65 competitive entries. Six bizarre wooden "mushrooms" were approved for execution. Construction began on June 26, 2005 and was scheduled for completion in the summer of 2007. But the work did not go according to plan due to technical and material problems that arose during the construction process.

The construction of the futuristic building Metropol Parasol lasted for 6 years and was completed only by the beginning of 2011, while the cost of work increased by 3 times compared to the original estimate. The final price of the construction, according to some reports, reached 100 million euros, which caused additional public outrage.

In addition, the inhabitants of Seville did not appreciate the conceptual appeal of the Metropol Parasol design at all. It seemed that a huge alien structure would burst into the classical urban architecture and destroy the usual harmony. But as soon as the Umbrellas rose to the Place of the Incarnation, everyone understood the grandiose design of the building, which has become one of the main modern tourist sites in Spain. In January 2013 Metropol Parasol entered the top 5 finalists of the Contemporary Architecture Award awarded by the European Union every two years.

What to see in Metropol Parasol

Metropol Parasol consists of six huge umbrellas that rise above the square at a height of 26 meters. The upper parts of each umbrella are intertwined to form a monolithic roof. The length and width of the imposing building is 150 and 70 meters respectively, covering both the Plaza de l'Incarnation and the Plaza Mayor. Due to the design features, the inhabitants of Seville began to call it Las Setas, which means "mushrooms" in Spanish. That is why in 2013 it was decided to rename the building. "Mushrooms" or "Seville Mushrooms" became the official name of the attraction.

Many tourists, going to the Metropol Parasol in Seville, forget about the time. You can spend the whole day here and not notice that it is over. It's all about the fantastic construction, which occupies an area of about 5000 m 2 . During citywide festivities, thousands of citizens and guests of Seville come here, exhibitions, thematic fairs, and entertainment events are held. Under the arches of the building there are restaurants and cozy cafes, many shops and a chic farmers' market.

On the territory of the underground floor museum of archeology Antiquarium, which includes important archaeological sites of Seville from the ancient Roman and Andalusian eras. Among the most remarkable objects of Ancient Rome, it is worth noting the unique mosaics and murals of the 1st-6th centuries. Of the objects of the Andalusian period of the XII-XIII centuries, the decoration of the Islamic house of the Almohads stands out. In addition, the museum keeps historical information about Seville from the medieval and modern period.

The height of the Metropol Parasol exceeds 26 meters, and you can take a high-speed elevator to the top of the "mushroom hats". From here you can see almost all city panorama: the ancient city blocks, the Guadalquivir River with all the bridges, as well as the Cathedral, in the likeness of which the architect, in his words, created his futuristic creation Metropol Parasol. Walking along the winding walking paths at the top of the Mushrooms of Seville is an unforgettable experience.

Useful information on Metropol Parasol

Along with the unique architectural form, the cultural complex is also distinguished by such features as:

all the "mushroom umbrellas" of the structure were assembled from eight thousand wooden panels, none of which repeats the other in design;

fasteners were not the usual bolts and screws, but steel rods and a heat-resistant adhesive specially developed for the project;

at the farmers' market, located on the second level, an abundance of seafood, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meat products at quite reasonable prices;

nowhere else can you take such amazing photos as on the observation terrace of the Metropol Parasol;

locals recommend touching the mosaics of Hispalis, an ancient city that has now become a museum. They say that a wish made will come true.

reference Information

The cost of visiting the Antiquarium Museum is 2 euros

The cost of visiting the observation point on the top of the Metropol Parasol is 3 euros.

How to get there:

Bus: lines 27 and 32
Metro: Plaza Nueva (line T1)

"Seville mushrooms" on the map:

"Seville mushrooms" on the video:

What else to read

Orthodox Charitable Foundation "Alatyr" The Vicar of the Holy Trinity Monastery, the city of Alatyr, Archimandrite Jerome (Shurygin) - Father, departed to the Lord ...

Pukhtitsa: an uninterrupted tradition of female monasticism Protodeacon of the Russian Orthodox Church Andrey Kuraev in LiveJournal told his version of the origin of about 300...

St. Anastasius Stauropegial Convent St. Anastasius Monastery in Zhytomyr has already managed to become one of the most...