Page 322 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

320  M ADRID

SHOPPING IN MADRID

Madrid is a shoppers’ paradise, with well- popular streets around the pedestrianized
known designer stores competing for Preciados and the Puerta del Sol, and
attention with small, creative shops. Madrid Calle de la Princesa and adjacent streets.
still has more independent and family-run The Salamanca district is host to designer
shops than most European capitals, so it brands as well as upmarket antiques, while
should not be hard to pick up some truly for the lat est streetware visit the Chueca
original gifts. There are two main shopping district. The colourful food markets dotted
hearts in the city – the crowded and around the city are well worth a visit.

Opening Hours Food and Drink for its selection of olive oils and
Most shops in Madrid are Madrid is a paradise for gourmet gourmet products. The depart­
open from 10am to 2pm and food shopping. Strongly scented ment store El Corte Inglés has its
5pm to 8:30pm Monday– saffron, matured ewe’s cheese own depart ment dedi cated to
Friday, though larger stores or a fruity extra­virgin olive oil gourmet delicacies, as well as a
tend to stay open during all make ideal gifts. Spain has a super market for more general
lunch and close at 10pm. deep­rooted tradition of pork groceries. There are smaller deli­
Small shops often close on products, ranging from whole catessens in nearly every district.
Saturday afternoon. Shopping hams to sausages of every In the Salamanca area, visit
centres, department stores shape and size. The best and Mantequerías Bravo, famous
and big shops are permitted most expensive ham is Ibérico, for its excellent cheeses, preserves
to open on Sundays, and the from the small, black­hoofed and sweets, and Gold Gourmet,
downtown shops around Iberian pig. In Old Madrid, with its selection of fresh produce,
Sol open on Sundays, too. branches of Museo del Jamón including edible flowers.
Many small shops close for have an enor mous range of If you are looking for good
a month (usually August) in Spanish hams, cheeses and cured wine, head to Bodega Santa
the summer. sausages. La Chinata is famous Cecilia, an outlet with a long
history of selling Spanish and
international wines. It also
organizes tasting sessions.
Lavinia, in the Salamanca
district, is said to be Europe’s
biggest wine shop, with more
than 1,500 brands available.
For a truly authentic madrileño
souvenir, try La Violeta, famous
for its fragrant violet sweets.

Markets
A favourite local activity is
shopping at the street, or flea,
markets, where you can spend
a pleasant few hours browsing
for antiques, second­hand
clothes, pottery, handicrafts
and furniture. Some markets are
focused on only one item, such
as the Sunday­morning stamp,
postcard and coin market under
the arches of Plaza Mayor, or the
Cuesta de Moyano at the
Atocha end of Paseo de Prado,
where stalls selling second­
hand books are set up daily. The
legendary El Rastro Sunday flea
market (see p306). is a must for
any visitor to Madrid, not only
for the variety of goods to be
The enticing frontage of the Museo del Jamón found, from antiques to trendy

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