Page 328 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

326  THE IBERIAN PENINSULA

Shopping although the best fish is
often to be found on the
Shopping in Spain is a pleasurable activity, particularly if you local market stands.
approach it in a leisurely way, punctuating it with frequent For fruit and vegetables, a
breaks for coffee. In small, family-run shops especially, people frutería or verdulería will have
will go out of their way to fulfill your smallest request. Markets better produce, because they
stock only what is in season.
sell the freshest of produce and quality wines can be found at Hardware stores are called
almost any grocer. Leatherwork is still highly regarded among ferreterías. Librerías are in fact
Spain’s many traditional crafts. Spanish design has come to bookshops, not libraries, and
the forefront in both fashion and decor. papelerías are stationers.
Anything you buy as a regalo
(gift) will be gift-wrapped on
Opening Hours
designers can be found in and request. When you buy flowers
Stores usually open at 10am, around the Passeig de Gràcia, from a floristería, the assistant
close at 2pm, and reopen from including Santa Eulàlia, which will expect to arrange them.
5pm to 8pm. Bakeries generally offers all the top international
open early, at around 8am. brands along with its own Markets
Supermarkets and department luxury fashion line.
stores stay open over lunchtime. Victorio & Lucchino in Seville Every large town has a daily
Rural markets are held in the sells clothes with a distinctly market (mercado), open from
morning only. In some regions, Andalusian style. 9am to 2pm, and from 5pm to
Sunday trading is just limited to 8pm. Small towns have one or
the bakeries, pastelerías (pastry Leather Goods more market days a week.
stores), and newspaper kiosks, Markets usually have the best
but in many tourist resorts Leather accessories and shoes fresh produce, but they sell all
stores open on Sunday. are a popular purchase and there types of food, including frutos
is a wide range in terms of quality secos (dried fruits) and seasonal
and price. It is the practise in mid- produce, such as mushrooms,
Larger Stores
range stores for customers to soft fruit, and game. There are
The hipermercados (superstores) choose from the selection in the also usually other types of
are sited outside towns and can window and give the sales assis- goods on sale, such as flowers,
often be found by following tant the code number indicated hardware, and clothes.
signs to the centro comercial. and the talla (size) required. If Flea markets (rastros) are held
The best known are Carrefour, you want an all-leather shoe, everywhere in Spain, but the
Alcampo, and Hipercor. look for cuero, the hide label largest – known as El Rastro –
Spain’s leading department mark. Lupo is a long-established is in Madrid, and is held on
store is El Corte Inglés. It has Barcelona firm famous for its Sundays and public holidays.
branches in all cities and in luxurious leather bags. Prices on the clothes, records,
the larger regional towns. Leather clothes and bags of antiques, and other items sold
Major seasonal sales are all kinds are usually of good here can be bargained down.
advertised by the word Rebajas, quality and well designed. Madrid also has a coin, stamp,
displayed in store windows. The prestigious Loewe hand- and postcard market held on
bags are sold in retail outlets Sundays in the Plaza Mayor.
in Madrid and other major The Encants Vells, the flea
Clothing Stores
Spanish cities. Madrid’s Paco market in Barcelona, is held
The larger cities naturally offer Martínez also offers stylish bags on Mondays, Wednesdays,
the widest selection of clothing at affordable prices. Fridays, and Saturdays. The
stores, but Spanish designer food market, La Boqueria, is
labels can be found even in Specialty Stores open daily on La Rambla.
the smaller towns.
The Calle de Serrano and Calle Specialty stores are often run Food and Drink
de José Ortega y Gasset are the by generations of the same
main streets for fashionwear in family. Panaderías (also called Spanish regional specialties
Madrid, while the work of young hornos) are bakeries selling are often better value when
designers is mostly located in bread and bollos (sweet buns). bought where they are made.
the Chueca district. Adolfo Cakes and pastries are sold Each region produces its own
Domínguez is the doyen of in pastelerías. type of sausage. In Burgos,
Madrid’s minimalist look. The Fresh meat can be bought in for example, morcilla (blood
adventurous will appreciate the a carnicería, but a charcutería sausage) is made, while a fiery
designs of Agatha Ruiz de la will have the best selection of red chorizo comes from
Prada. In Barcelona, inter- cold, cooked meats, and also Guijuelo, Extremadura.
national fashion labels and sells a wide selection of cheeses. Andalusia is renowned for olives
clothes by international Pescaderías sell fish and shellfish, and olive oil, and Galicia for its

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