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Interesting Reading on the area:
Shopping
- A Soothing Experience by Anil Gupta
It may not quite be in the same league
as Paris or Milan, Barcelona is certainly among Europe's cities of style.
It is a natural magnet for the fashion-conscious and there is no shortage
of design outlets for even the most indefatigable consumer. Everything
from books to jewels, haute couture, designer furniture, cava and condoms
is on offer. Several markets animate squares around the centre of town.
 Most
of the mainstream stores can be found on a shopping 'axis' like a V. From
the waterfront it leads up La Ramble through Placa de Catalunya and on
up Passeig de Gracia. At Avinguda Diagonal one turns left. From here as
far as Placa de la Reina Maria Cristina (especially the final stretch from
Placa de Francesc Macia) the Diagonal is jammed with places where one can
shop to his/her hearts' desire.
The best shopping areas in central
Barcelona are Passeig de Gracia and the streets to its southwest, including
the Bulevard Rosa arcade just north of Carrer d'Arago, and Barri Gotic
streets such as Carrer de la Portaferrissa, Carrer de la Boqueria, Carrer
del Call, Carrer de la Llibreteria and Carrer de Ferran, and around Placa
de Sant Josep Oriol.
Barcelona has always been at the
forerunner, as a City, and, undoubtedly, is considered one of the world's
design capitals. No wonder that, pioneer in the world-wide movement of
modernization and renewal of retailing, the City became in the last few
years a great Shopping City, with a very complete and competitive offer,
very personal and original in lots of sectors like the fashion, design
objects, typical products, etc.
To go shopping in Barcelona, even
if one doesn't buy a thing, is a real pleasure, for the lively crowds,
the helpfulness and friendliness of the shopkeepers, for the shops themselves
and for the easiness of a human sized city, where the shopping areas are
easily identified, following the famous Shopping Line.
Along the shopping line, the shopping
areas are easy to define- C. Pelai and Rda. Universitat are rather popular.
Down Pl. Catalunya, the maze of little streets of Portal de l'Àngel,
Porta Ferrissa and C. del Pí are full of little, original and good
value shops.
Defined by originality and relative
affordability, shopping in Barcelona has developed into a roaring fashion,
design, foodstuffs, and crafts fair that expand daily. The fact that different
parts of town provide distinct contexts for shopping makes exploring the
city and browsing boutiques mutually inclusive. The Ciutat Vella, especially
the Born-Ribera area, is rich in small crafts shops, young designers, and
an endless pot pourri of artisans and merchants operating in restored medieval
spaces that are often as dazzling as the wares on sale. Even the pharmacies
and grocery stores of Barcelona are often sumptuous esthetic feasts, filled
with Art Nouveau effects or Gothic details.
Shopping for design objects and fashions
in the Eixample are like buying art supplies at the Louvre - an Art Nouveau
architecture park filled with its own children - textiles, furnishings,
curios, and knickknacks of every kind. Original and surprising, yet wearable
clothing items - what one indefatigable shopper described as "elegant funk"
-are Barcelona's signature contribution to fashion. Barcelona designers
are relentlessly daring and innovative, combining fine materials with masterful
workmanship in fresh ways.
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About the Author
Anil Gupta recommends that
you visit barcelona
hotels for more information. |
