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.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleJoe.com

Anil Gupta recommends that you visit www.bookings.es/city/es/barcelona.html?aid=305255 for more information on barcelona hotels.

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