Then, around 2013, Alicante’s mayor had a wild idea: transform this street into a playful wonderland. Out with the shadows, in with giant, colorful mushroom sculptures! Overnight, the asphalt was painted green and yellow, with hopscotch games appearing underfoot to tempt both kids and adults. It was so quirky that some locals wondered if the mayor had eaten one too many mushrooms herself.
The street’s new look, now known as “Calle de las Setas”-the Street of Mushrooms-sparked a tourism boom. New shops and cafes popped up, and laughter replaced anxious whispers. What was once a place to avoid is now a must-see, proving a little imagination (and maybe some fungi) can turn any story around.
