Page 166 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

164  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS SHOPPING IN THE BALEARIC ISLANDS  165

SHOPPING IN THE visitors, they offer colourful
BALEARIC ISLANDS clothes reminiscent of the
fashions popular in the
1960s, as well as every type
As elsewhere in Spain, the islands produce make good souvenirs and are available of ornament, including
brooches, earrings, necklaces,
a wide variety of good leatherware, with on all of the islands, as are other island belts and bracelets made of
Inca, in Mallorca, having a worldwide crafts including embroidery and basket­ shells. These bustling markets
reputation for footwear. Those looking work. Local produce should also not be are organized during the
for items of clothing often head to Ibiza, ignored, and bringing home a string of high season only and, unlike
which is known for its “ad­ lib” fashion garlic, some spicy sausages or a good traditional Mallorcan markets,
trends and the prevalence of jewellery bottle of Mallorcan wine is as good a they are held every day.
stalls. Locally produced ceramics also way as any of remembering the holiday.
Food
The Balearic Islands offer
9am until 9pm. Some close a number of unique food Hippy bazaar in San Francesc on Formentera
for a siesta between 2pm and products that are specific
5pm. Boutiques have similar to the region. The delicious The most popular alcohols replaced by factory­made
opening hours. Shops along ensaimada pastry, popular produced on the islands articles that imitate handicrafts.
the beaches open virtually with tourists, is packed in include gin from Maó and These include ceramics
non-stop. These are the most distinctive octagonal boxes, herb liqueurs. You can decorated with traditional
reliable places to buy food making it easy to transport. taste the local gin in the patterns, typical of the islands.
and other basic articles. Gourmets may be tempted Xoriguer Distillery in Maó The most characteristic
During high season most by sobrasada – a spicy pork (see p100). Liqueurs are pottery items – the siurells
shops remain open seven sausage produced in several produced in a great produced mainly on
days a week. varieties and used in many number of varieties on Mallorca – are colourful
Provincial towns and villages Balearic dishes. Strings of all the islands and can whistles in the shape
do not have such regular open- dried peppers, or olives be sampled in the of people or animals,
ing hours and are more attuned prepared in a variety of ways, shops that sell them. painted in white, red
to the pace of life of the local attract those who wish to Balearic wines are also and green. They can
people than to holiday-makers. bring back culinary souvenirs. well worth trying. The be bought in many
Shops in small villages may All these products can be best wines come from places at the markets,
also close at weekends. bought in markets and food the Binissalem region in small shops and
Ceramics shop in Maó, Menorca stores. Shops that sell exclu­ on Mallorca, where in large stores that
sively Balearic food are very a grand wine festival sell Balearic pottery.
Where to Buy They offer slightly lower prices How to Pay attractive. The sheer number is held every year in Popular, but expensive,
Souvenirs of the Balearic Islands and a much larger selection of When shopping in small shops, and variety of colourful September. There Dried is the glassware
can be bought almost any- goods. The specialist centres food stores and markets, it products on display will are two main wine­ peppers produced by the
where and the number of are also great places to hunt is customary to pay in cash. tempt anyone to step inside. producing regions in three glassworks on
small shops offering all sorts for souvenirs including pottery Elsewhere, all major cards the Balearic Islands – Mallorca. At the Ca’n Gordiola
of knick-knacks and mementos or synthetic pearls. are widely accepted. Binissalem and Pla glassworks near Algaida you
is truly amazing. They can be i Llevant, both on can witness the production
found in the historic parts of Opening Hours Markets Mallorca. Wines that process (see p91). Equally
towns, in tourist centres and are especially worth popular are articles made
near harbours and beaches. The large shops in tourist Markets are an integral feature sampling include of olive wood, such as bowls
Almost every hotel has its centres are usually open from of the Mallorcan scenery. They those from the cellars and mortars produced by the
own boutique. There are also are held at weekly intervals, of Jaume de Puntiró, Olive­Art factory near Manacor.
numerous shops selling clothes mostly in the provincial towns Macià Batle, Vins Also close to Manacor is
and anything that may be and villages of the island. Nadal, Ànima Negra, Perlas Majorica, a shop selling
useful on the beach, including They mainly serve the local Pere Seda and high­quality simulated pearls
mattresses, mats, hats, beach population, although during Miquel Gelabert. that can be bought in smart
balls and sun-block creams. high season they also offer boutiques all over Europe, as
The items offered by bout- many goods aimed at tourists. Souvenirs well (see p85).
iques can also be found in Besides everyday domestic Items of clothing are popular
larger shopping centres, where items, most of them sell fruit, These days it can souvenirs. Espadrilles (tradit­
you can buy food and various vegetables and sometimes be difficult to buy ional canvas footwear) can be
factory products. Palma has the locally produced sauces and genuine local found in Ibiza. Leather goods
largest choice of shops while preserves. Markets tend to handicrafts on the such as wallets, handbags,
Maó, in Menorca, has quite a start in the mornings and Balearic Islands. jackets and sandals are prev­
few outlets and can cater for end early in the afternoon. Sometimes you can alent in Menorca. T­shirts and
most holidaymakers’ tastes. Hippy markets are held find them in markets, baseball caps with humorous
Factory shops are good Boutiques and restaurants along a mainly on Formentera and but you may find they slogans and pictures abound
places to buy souvenirs. seaside promenade Ibiza. Aimed squarely at Shop selling local delicacies in Palma have been largely on all the islands.

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm