Bargain hunters
and sophisticated shoppers alike are seduced by the quality
and variety of Spanish products. Leather and suede goods-clothing,
shoes, luggage and accessories-are plentiful and reasonably
priced throughout the country.
Elegant boutiques of stylish
clothing designers can be found in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville,
Valencia and San Sebastián. El Corte Inglés, the
leading department store, has branches in most cities.
Traditional earthenware
pottery and the blue- and yellow-glazed ceramics are a bargain.
World-renowned Lladró porcelain figurines are quintessentially
Spanish.
Jewelry is another good
buy. There’s jet from the northwest, silver from Salamanca,
cultured pearls from Mallorca, and the unique jet and gold damascene
work of Toledo’s artisans. Wrought iron work can be found
in Logroño, Seville and the Balearic islands.
Finally, the flea markets
of Madrid (El Rastro) and Barcelona (Els Encants) are havens
for browsers and serious shoppers. Antiques, trinkets, clothing,
paintings, posters, household items-and more-fill the shops
in the intricate maze of narrow streets, with something for
every taste.
Shopping Hours
Monday-Friday 9:30 am-1 pm and 3-8 pm, Saturday 9:30 am-1 pm.
Banking
Hours
Monday-Thursday 8:30 am-4:30 pm, Friday 8:30 am-2 pm, Saturday
8:30 am-1 pm.
Shop in Madrid
Fashions for men, women and children and Spanish and international
designers take up shop around the streets of Almirante and Conde
de Xiquena, as well as in the district of Salamanca which concentrates
the best shops for jewelry, shoes, leather goods, furniture,
gifts, etc.
Concentrated in and around the Plaza Mayor are an assortment
of shops selling traditional articles such as espadrilles, fabrics,
ropes, hats and religious articles.
Large department stores
are located in the vicinity of the Puerta del Sol, and on the
streets of Princesa, Goya and Castellana.
Open-air markets. The Rastro
is the most famous of the flea markets which opens on Saturdays
and Sundays between the Plaza de Cascorro, La Latina and the
street of Embajadores. Everything imaginable can be found here
from valuable antiques to used clothing, including collector
cards, books, records, paintings, etc.
Feria del Libro Antiguo
y de Ocasi?n. This book fair for old and used books is held
on the Paseo de Recoletos at the beginning of May.
Feria del Libro sobre Madrid.
This books fair held in May features books about Madrid. Plaza
de Isabel II.
Shop in Barcelona
 Another
flea-market can be found outside the Mercat de San Antoni on
the same days as the Les Encants flea-market and with the same
hours - Between the Plaça
de Catalunya and C. Portaferrissa and along Av. Portal de l'Ángel,
an important shopping area can be found, including two
department stores and many shops selling fashions, accessories
and other articles.
- In a good part of the Eixample, we find numerous select fashion
shops and jewelry stores. On the Passeig de Gràcia and in
other parts of the Eixample, commercial galleries abound.
- The area of Diagonal, in the high part of the city, is another
interesting shopping area. Here we find two department stores,
along with the most famous designers boutiques in Barcelona.
- In Plaça de las Glòries Catalanes we find the Mercat de
les Encants, a flea market selling all kinds of old
(sometimes antique) and new articles. Its opens on Monday, Wednesday,
Friday and Saturday from 8AM to 7PM.
- Another flea-market can be found outside the Mercat de
SAn Antoni on the same days as the Les Encants flea-market
and with the same hours. On Sunday mornings there is an unusual
flea-market of old books, collector cards, movie posters and
records.
Shop in Granada
Handicrafts
 There
is an important tradition in Granada which includes ceramics,
wrought iron, cloth, leather, and musical instruments. Moorish
influence can be found in many of them, such as marquetry, decorating
of furniture and wooden objects with precious inlaid woods;
metalworking, such as wrought iron or repoussé designs
in copper; wrought iron lanterns, lamps, metal grating, and
grille work.
Glazed ceramic from Granada receives the name of Fajalauza from
the Place where the potters settled near the gateway of the
same name of the Albaicín.
Master guitar-makers of Granada have received international
acclaim. The making of castanets has also become an important
tradition. Leather craftsman continue working with embossed
or polychrome leathers to make decorative objects, purses, etc.
In the Alcaicería, as well as on the Calle of Zacatín
(near the Cathedral), ceramics, copper, embossed leather, wrought
iron and other souvenirs can be purchased. The Community Activities
Center (Ccentro de Actividades Comunitarias) of Albaicín
also has handicrafts for sale.
Fashions, Gifts and Antiques
The majority of fashionable
clothing shops can be found in the vecinity of the Cathedral
and in the areas surrounding Puerta Real, Carrera de la Virgen,
Recogidas, Acera del Carro, and Pedro Antonio de Alarcón.
Antique shops can be found on the Calle Elvira and the Cuesta
de Gomérez. |