 | | Valencia has a long craft and artisan tradition with the ceramics industry being particularly important. The town of Paterna is famous for the production of socarrats (painted ceramic wall decorations) and for its green and purple coloured ornaments. There are hand painted fans, decorated with ivory or exotic wood, and incredible silk art which can be seen in ceremonial dress and the costumes during the Fallas festivals. |
If you are looking for something special, pay a visit to the city street markets where you will find a variety of articles, from clothes to antiques. These markets, set up on public walkways, are only open in the morning and move from neighbourhood to neighbourhood during the week.
If you fancy some retail therapy just wander through the city and you'll find all that you need - top international fashion houses and the latest local designer outlets, side by side with the big national and international department stores. You can shop till you drop!
For those who prefer something more familiar, there are a number of large indoor shopping centres in the city.
We recommend a visit to the Plaza Redonda on Sunday mornings. Its hustle and bustle take you back to 19th century Valencia, an open-air flea market with paintings, books, plants, animals, leather goods and music. Also on Sunday, stamp and coin collectors gather in the Lonja de la Seda for their ritual of exchange and barter.
Take a stroll around the municipal food markets, especially the Mercado Central, and you'll find an experience for all the senses, an amazing fusion of aroma and colour set in a building known for its exceptional modern architecture. In the neighbouring streets there are traditional, small shops and intense commercial activity.
The Mercado de Colón, another architectural jewel, has recently been refurbished and houses modern cafes, restaurants, a commercial centre, craft shops and flower stalls. |