Page 340 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

338 TRA VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Shopping in Rīga designs, while modern styles
from up-and-coming designers
Once a member of the powerful Hanseatic League (see p36), can be found at Klase in
the Latvian capital has had a distinguished mercantile history. Berga Bazaars.
Although its harbour is no longer one of the most important In addition to countless
in the region, commerce has flourished since the restoration places selling amber neck laces
and bracelets, there are several
of independence, with boutiques and department stores shops offering more unusual
springing up through out the city. Specialist shops can be jewellery. The stylish Putti
found all over the Old Town and in shopping malls, while gallery stocks jewellery by
major high-street brands are available in Centrs. Souvenir Latvian designers and also
shops, mostly found in the Old Town, sell handicrafts of holds exhibitions.
variable quality including linen, amber jewellery and
knitwear. Handmade chocolates and Rīga Black Balsam, Handicrafts
the city’s signature drink, are popular gifts. There are numerous souvenir
shops in the Old Town stock ing
items such as linen and
Department Stores and clientele for folk wooden toys. In some
Shopping Malls
recordings. Rīga’s best cases, however, these
The years since independence music outlet is Upe, a are mass-produced
have witnessed the develop ment chain owned by the former rather than handmade. More
of many shopping centres and frontman of folk-rock band unique and practical gifts can
department stores as well as the Jauns Mēness. Upe specializes be found in Riija, which offers
renovation of stalwarts such as in folk music from Latvia and ecologically produced crafts
the 1920s Galerija Centrs. beyond, and also has a and house hold items.
Upmarket boutiques and wine bar. Randoms is Decorative wall lamp Pienene boasts a wide
galleries can be found at Berga perhaps the biggest range of souve nirs, while
Bazārs, a 19th-century enclave music shop in the Baltic States. more can be found in the open-
of shops, offices, restaurants and Cheap CDs can be bought at the air Egle craft market. Some shops
apartments. The Galleria Rīga Central Market, although bootleg also sell Russian objects such as
shopping mall is the hub of versions are rife. matryoshka, wooden dolls of
designer fashion, while mc² has various sizes that are placed
stores specializing in gourmet one inside the other.
food and home accessories. Clothing and Jewellery
For more basic shopping there Handwoven garments, lace
is Stockmann, on the edge of items and knitwear are popu lar Art and Antiques
the Old Town. souvenirs. Designer clothes are There are many commercial art
available at upmarket stores, galleries in Rīga and the tourist
while smaller shops sell information office can provide an
Markets
traditional woollen garments. up-to-date list. Māksla XO is one
Housed in five huge zeppelin Tines sells handmade wool of the city’s most highly regarded
hangars, Rīga’s Central Market and linen items in traditional galleries. Art Nouveau Rīga, a
has most of its indoor space
dedicated to food, while the
stalls and kiosks selling CDs,
clothes and electrical goods are
outside. Also of interest is the
covered outdoor antiques and
organic food market on the
second and fourth Sunday of
each month at Berga Bazārs.
Latvians love to give flowers
and the city’s main Flower
Market is open 24 hours a day,
through the year.

Music
Folk music was a key part of the
National Awakening Movement
(1856), although in the years
since independence it has
become harder to find a sizeable A shopper browsing for souvenirs at Art Nouveau Rīga