Catalonia - Art and Culture 2018

Catalonia has a long commercial history: it is a melting pot of shops with tempting markets. The great market

Poblenou, a district full of old factories, many turned into new projects, in the first weekend of each month houses the Palo Alto Market , with 3,500 square metres to shop, eat and lis- ten to music. The Slow Food group offers a market with quality seasonal products respectful of the environment. On Saturdays, they open in the Parc de les Tres Xemeneies in Barcelona, and on the first Saturday of each month in the Retiro gardens in Sitges. In Barcelona, some proposals focus on the sale and exchange of second-hand products. In the Raval district, once a month there is the Flea Market . And on the Moll de la Fusta and at Es- tació de França, Lost&Found . On the Costa Brava, an ancient country house in August is the venue of White Summer , a mar- ket festival. Especially successful is the experience of REC in Igualada (Paisatges Barcelona), which twice a year for four days transforms an old industrial dis- trict into a series of ephemeral stores. It has a gast- ronomic offer, as well as live music and DJs. Palo Alto and other markets Shopping in a market is a global experience. These combine music, gastronomy and trade. Who can resist?

© danny caminal. gz

© carlos montanyes. gz

In Barcelona, strolling down the Passeig de Grà- cia is like visiting a catalogue of luxury stores, with everything from Prada to Stella McCartney and Louis Vuitton (barcelonapaseodegracia. com) . Equally full of all kinds of products, from fashion to kitchen utensils, is the Avinguda Di- agonal, which crosses the top of the Passeig de Gràcia. And near the sea, below Plaça de Cata- lunya, in the old quarter and Born district, there are small charming shops run by independent designers, and stores like Artesania Catalana on Banys Nous street, a showcase of artisanal handicrafts.

There are structured commercial hubs in oth- er Catalan cities too. In Lleida, for example, shops are grouped together on eight streets in the city centre, which together can meet all of your needs. The same strategy is followed by the retailers in the centre of Reus , who are gath- ered on the so-called Eix Comercial Prim-Suny- er, which is formed by two long avenues full of interesting stores and just a ten-minute walk from very interesting modernista buildings. The town of Igualada is another commercial bench- mark, particularly in the textile sector.

a store on passeig de gràcia.

the lost&found market at the estació de frança.

trades with history

Reus, as well as a modernist city, also stands out for its quality and proximity commercial activity. How many historic stores can a city have? The answer is given on guided tours of Reus’s centenary trades, which preserve historic items as well as many memories and anecdotes. This is a trip in time and to the interior of these stores, where the owners themselves will explain their experiences, and also those of the earlier generations behind the counter. The experience includes a tasting of vermouth and hazelnuts from Reus. Available all year, except for the summer, with bookings. The tour is offered in Catalan, Spanish and English.

200 AROUND luxury, ARE LOCATED ON the passeig de Gràcia STORES, many

everything in the same place Catalonia also has large stores and shopping centres, which are occasionally located in large cities, as well as in areas close to urban centres. Located just a few kilometres from the city of Barcelona and providing their own bus service, outlets have appeared like La Roca Village and Viladecans The Style Outlets, with stores of leading brands with sales all year round, providing a different shopping experience.

6.000 visitors a day are received by the Palo Alto Market

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For more information www.latevaruta.com

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For more information www.larocavillage.com

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