The most convenient
area for tourists is around Calle de Preciados,
between Sol and Gran Vía, home to the El Corte Inglés
department store, high-street names like Zara (Gran
Vía 32) and Casa Jiménez (Calle de
Preciados 42), famed throughout Spain for its lace and embroidered
shawls (mantones and mantillas).
The smartest shopping district is Salamanca located
northeast of the centre, around Calle Serrano.
Top designer names like Versace, Chanel, Hugo Boss and Hermès
including the fluid fabrics and elegant cuts of Spanish designer
Adolfo Domínguez, are located on Calle Ortega
y Gasset. Head for Calle Serrano for Purificación
García, Roberto Verino, Ermenegildo Zegna and
Yves Saint Laurent. Another trendy area is Chueca, especially
Calles Almirante and Conde de Xiquena,
while the Mecca for youth fashions is Calle Fuencarral.
Bargains can be found during the sales, which take place in January
and July.
The main areas for antiques are Salamanca and the arcades on Calle
Ribera de Curtidores, Nuevas Galerías, at
number 12, and Galerías Piquer, at number
29. Bargain hunters should make for the Rastro,
Madrid’s famous flea market, also located around Ribera
de Curtidores. The market is open on Sunday mornings until
1400 hrs. Shoppers should beware of pickpockets in this area.
More unusual shops include, Mesquida, Calle Mayor
22, for religious and devotional objects, including crib pieces.
The Spanish guitar specialist, Manuel Gonzales
Contreras, with the store at Calle de la Paz 8, and the
workshop at Calle General Margallo 10, El Flamenco Vive,
Calle Conde de Lemos 7, which sells sheet music, videos and CDs
as well as colourful costumes and accessories and Seseña,
Calle Cruz 23, makers of traditional Spanish capes.
Serious shoppers might opt for the Madrid
Shopping Tour (telephone number: (91) 316 0657). For €25
visitors are taken by minibus on a tour of Salamanca, Las Rozas
shopping centre and downtown Madrid. Advantages include special
discounts and guides and lunch is included in the price. Tours depart
from Plaza de Neptuno, Tuesday to Thursday at 1000 hrs.
Opening Hours: 0930/1000 to 1330/1400 and
1630/1700 to 2030/2100, with major stores open throughout
the lunch hours.
Sales tax is from 7 per cent–16 per cent (luxuries). It is
possible for visitors from outside the EU to claim a tax refund
from many central shops, shoppers should look for the Global
Refund Tax Free Shopping stickers in windows and ask for Tax
Free Checks and keep with receipts to be presented at airport customs
upon departure. Further information is available from Global Refund
(tel: (900) 435 482 or (91) 729 4380; fax: (91) 729 1299; e-mail:
taxfree@es.globalrefund.com |
