subject: Madrid – Shopping [print this page] Author: Larry Austin Author: Larry Austin
Madrid offers a unique shopping experience as it boasts several major shopping areas with so many different styles to choose from. Also there is the added benefit of reasonable pricing, unless of course the shopping is limited to designer boutiques.
If the main interest is clothes and shoes, there are six areas to choose from. Calle Goya, in the Barrio de Salamanca area is one of Madrid's main shopping streets. With its unique exclusive ambience it is home to hundreds of shops and showcases luxury with its high-street fashion, boutiques and jewellers. Indulge in creations by Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, Donna Karan, Channel and many more in the Salamanca neighborhood.
More towards the north of the city is the Castellana area. The area features the Azca complex and the Calle Orense street. The street is full of small shops, galleries as well as an abundance of cafes and fast food restaurants.
The street Calle de la Princesa, running from Plaza Espana to Plaza de la Moncloa, features a large number of shops, including department stores, shoe shops and Spanish fashion outlets, as well as many cafes. Among other countless possibilities on offer, this street is also very popular for cinemas, clubs, pubs and discos.
The Puerta del Sol is a another main shopping area with a plaza as well as a myriad of streets. For the traditional silk shawls, also known as Mantones de Manila, and quality Italian and Spanish shoes try the The Calle del Carmen and the Calle Preciados streets. On the Preciados street the El Corte Ingles shopping centre takes the centre stage with its large collection of shops expanding to surrounding buildings.
Bustling with life during the day time the Chueca district is a popular cosmopolitan area. Well known for its avant-garde and Spanish fashion, shops in this area cater to the most daring shoppers; especially the streets perpendicular to Fuencarral and Hortaleza streets. The Fuencarral market, with its labyrinthine corridors, feature products of designers, craftsmen and traders from all over Spain. Well known for outrageous fashion the area is the ideal place for shoppers searching for daring lingerie, glamorous designs with feathers, leathers and sequins and everything else for the unique clientele.
On a Sunday morning try the flea market El Rastro: from the Plaza de Cascorro down to the road known as Ribera de Curtidores, vendors promote their ware on temporary stalls. Most items here are imported leather and textile products.
For a quick and easy shopping spree try one of the shopping malls. With many opening up in Madrid in the recent past, featuring local as well as international ware, the biggest are Xanadu, PlazaNorte2 and Sexta Avanida.
Located more towards the south of the city, the Xanadu features the largest indoor ski slope in Europe. It is easily accessible via both private and public modes of transport. Dominating the northern part of the city with its 200 plus stores is the PlazaNorte2. The complex also features independent stores such as Ikea and Carrefour housed in their own buildings. The Sexta Avenida is located on the A-6 highway. Its 100 plus shops can easily be reached by car, bus or train. The 'terraza' inside the centre serves Spanish food in an artificially created Spanish food terrace.About the Author:
Larry Austin is a freelance journalist who writes on travel related topics
such as hotel and destination reviews etc. He is currently working for roomsnet.com which offers visitors the option of world wide hotel bookings. roomsnet.com offers many last minute Madrid deals for holidaymakers.
