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Shopping Guides
The main shopping areas of Madrid include the swanky Salamanca district and the trendier Chueca. Madrileños tend to dress conservatively, so you may not find too many bold and cutting-edge designs – but you will find quality leather goods and labels from diverse Spanish and European designers. The historic center hosts a weekly flea market for artisanal crafts as well as a gourmet food hall for local delicacies. For typically Spanish items like fans or paella pans, head to the Puerta del Sol area. Note that most stores close from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., then remain open until 8 p.m. All are closed on Sundays.
Fashionistas will want to spend some time exploring the aristocratic Salamanca neighborhood. The area around Calle Serrano is where the luxury brands are concentrated but its neighboring streets have some wonderful Spanish labels that are worth hunting down. Some of the best shopping in the city is on offer in the charming passageway Callejon de Jorge Juan, which is the street to hit for stunning Spanish fashion.
Fashion
...take a break and stroll in the Parque del Retiro. Originally built as a royal retreat, the Retiro opened to the public in the 19th century and has been a mainstay of Madrid life ever since. Families flock to the park’s lake on summer afternoons to rent rowboats, watch street performers that line the sidewalks surrounding it and picnic on the lawns. Notable sites within the park’s boundaries include the Crystal Palace, originally built in 1887 as a greenhouse and now used for art exhibitions; the Fountain of the Falling Angel, inspired by Paradise Lost; and the Forest of the Departed, a memorial for the victims of 2004’s Atocha train bombing.
The funky neighborhood of Chueca is reminiscent of New York City’s East Village in the 1990’s, with a mix of paint-peeling electrical parts shops, ancient looking bars where men sit drinking Vermouth, dusty bric-a-brac stores and here and there—like a breath of fresh air—a hip, newly painted fashion boutique scattered amidst them. The best streets are those scattered around Plaza Chueca, including Argensola and Barquillo.
Fashion
...stop for a sit-down lunch at Bazaar, a lively modern brasserie with excellent farm fresh food.
Although the historic center of Madrid is notably touristy with chain shops, it is home to two excellent markets. El Rastro is the Sunday flea markets for local crafts, while Mercado San Miguel is a chic gourmet food hall.
Markets
... tour the Palacio Real, Madrid's royal palace. Built on the site of a 9th-century fortress in 1734, King Philip V constructed the palace visitors see today, which has the largest floor space of any European palace. The nearly 3,000 rooms, of which 50 are open to visitors, contain original furnishings, ornate frescoes and paintings by Velázquez, Caravaggio and Goya. Military buffs should stop by the Royal Armory, located off the main courtyard. The vast collection of armor and weapons includes pieces carried by former kings as long ago as the 13th century.
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