Metropol Parasol

The Metropol Parasol is a vast undulating wooden structure that rises above the Plaza de la Encarnación in central Seville. Designed by German architect Jürgen Mayer H. and completed in 2011, it's one of the largest wooden structures in the world — locals call it Las Setas, meaning 'the mushrooms,' because from the right angle that's exactly what the six interlocking parasols look like. It was a deeply controversial project, wildly over budget and years late, but Sevillians have largely come around on it. Today it's one of the city's most distinctive modern landmarks, sitting in striking contrast to all that Moorish and Renaissance architecture nearby.

The structure has several layers worth exploring. Underneath, an archaeological museum called the Antiquarium displays Roman mosaics and artifacts uncovered during construction — genuinely impressive finds that nobody expected to find beneath a 21st-century plaza. At ground level there's a covered market and restaurants. But the real draw is the rooftop walkway, a curving elevated path that winds across the top of the parasols. You walk above the roofline of the old city, with views stretching to the Giralda tower and across a sea of terracotta. At sunset, when the light turns gold and the air cools slightly, this is one of the great urban panoramas in Spain.

Tickets for the rooftop walkway include a drink at the bar at the top — a small but appreciated touch. The Antiquarium below requires a separate ticket and is often skipped by visitors in a hurry, but it's worth the extra time if you're even slightly interested in history. Come in the early evening rather than midday when the heat in summer can make the open walkway punishing. The structure is busiest on weekends, but even then the flow of visitors is manageable — it's a big space.