What to Buy in Valencia

Like many Mediterranean cities, the most enjoyable shopping takes place in local markets, which are organized throughout all neighborhoods of Valencia every day of the week, only in the morning.

On Sunday mornings, do not miss the Plaza Redonda market, referred to by locals as 'el clot' (the hole), because the square is perfectly circular and can only be accessed through porticos. The square has a lower level designated for commercial activities and three upper levels.

Around the central fountain is a wooden roof under which there is a market for paintings, books, plants, animals, leather goods, and music. Plaza Redonda is located right in the center of the Historic Quarter, so it's easily accessible on foot. Behind Plaza Redonda, at the Lonja de la Seda, collectors of stamps and coins gather every Sunday morning to trade.

Those who love food shopping shouldn't miss spending some time at the Central Market, a wonderful sensory experience featuring an explosion of colors, sounds, and flavors in a beautiful modernist building. The Mercado de Colón, another gem of modernist architecture, has recently been restored and converted into a leisure space with its cafes, restaurants, shopping center, traditional craft shops, and florists.

If you can't resist Vuitton and Prada, even on vacation, there's only one street you should not miss in Valencia: Calle Colón, near Plaza de l'Ajuntament and Mercado Colón. This is the place for international shopping, featuring El Corte Inglés, Zara, Mango, Vuitton, and many other expensive boutiques. With the America's Cup, sprawling shopping centers have sprung up just outside the historic center. You can reach them by metro, following the signs in the stations.

If you want to buy a nice gift for everyone, just outside the Central Market, you can purchase an original paellera, the pan for making paella, for just a few euros. Valencia is famous for its ceramics, which come from the nearby town of Paterna, known for its 'socarrats' (terracotta) with green and purple decorations. The largest collection of ceramics can be found at Lladró, in the showroom located in the center of Valencia on Calle Poeta Querol. To uphold the stereotype of Spain as the homeland of fans, here you can buy fans of all kinds. The most valuable are hand-painted with ivory frames or exotic woods.