Page 609 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

SHOPPING IN SP AIN  607

Regional Products
Spain has a strong artisan
heritage, and the best places to
buy authentic traditional items
are the artisan markets and
speciality shops. All over Spain,
you’ll find great pottery and
ceramics. Spain’s pottery is
sturdy and colourful and each
region puts its own spin on the
traditional forms. Andalucía,
El Bisbal in Catalonia, Paterna
and Manises near Valencia and A Madrid branch of the fashionable Camper shoe store
Talavera de la Reina in Castilla- One-Stop Shopping Fashion
La Mancha are the main
centres for ceramic production. Small family-run shops are Spain has a long textile history,
Leather goods are another quaint, but when you’re in a so it’s no surprise to find good-
traditional craft. Reasonably hurry department stores and quality clothing here. In large
priced shoes, wallets and one-stop shops are more cities such as Madrid and
accessories are available convenient. Spain’s most famous Barcelona, you’ll find bou tiques of
almost everywhere. department store, El Corte major Spanish labels, including
In Toledo, filigree Inglés, is found in every major Antonio Miro, Lydia Delgado,
metalwork and swords city in Spain, sometimes Josep Font, Adolfo Dominguez
are sold on almost with multiple branches. and Loewe. Spanish fashion may
every street corner. This megastore sells not be on par with Paris or Milan
Other sought-after everything from yet, but designers here are
products include clothes and sports increas ingly gaining a reputation
guitars, traditional goods, to furniture for quality and originality.
fans, Lladró and food. Other Spanish-owned chains such as
porcelain figures one-stop shops Zara, Mango and Massimo
and lacework. include hyper- Dutti are known around the
markets such as world for their affordable,
Basketware, sold in all Carrefour (the cutting-edge fashion.
Food and Drink
parts of Spain Walmart of Europe), Mallorca is a good place to
Spain is second only Alcampo and Hipercor. buy shoes, home to Spain’s
to Italy in wine production, American-style malls, called most famous shoe company,
and Spanish wine is rated to centros comerciales in Spain, are Camper. Along with branded
be of the best value in Europe. gaining popularity and can be shoes, espadrilles (traditional
Major wine regions are Penedès found on the outskirts of most Spanish rope-soled shoes) are
(reds, whites and cava), Priorat large cities. a good informal option.
(reds), Rías Baixas (whites),
Ribera del Duero (reds), Rioja Size Chart
(reds) and Toro (whites). Sherry Women’s dresses, coats and skirts
and vermouth are also popular European 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
Spanish drinks. British 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
A gourmet’s paradise, Spain is American 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
great for food shopping. Olives Women’s shoes
and olive oil are always a good European 36 37 38 39 40 41
buy. Promi nent olive-growing British 3 4 5 6 7 8
areas include Andalucía, Aragón American 5 6 7 8 9 10
and southern Catalonia. Seville Men’s suits
produces marmalade from the European 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 (size)
countless orange trees that line British 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 (inches)
its streets. You can also buy American 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 (inches)
Spain’s famous Jamón Ibérico Men’s shirts (collar size)
(Iberian cured ham), or one of European 36 38 39 41 42 43 44 45 (cm)
the many region-specific British 14 15 15½ 16 16½ 17 17½ 18 (inches)
sausages such as Catalan American 14 15 15½ 16 16½ 17 17½ 18 (inches)
butifarra and Castilian morcilla. Men’s shoes
Gourmet chocolate shops European 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46
can frequently be found in British 6 7 7½ 8 9 10 11 12
cities. Escribà in Barcelona has a American 7 7½ 8 8½ 9½ 10½ 11 11½
good reputation for producing
exquisite confectionery.

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