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Thisis... the Ultimate Valencia Shopping Guide
Valencia is fantastic for shopping, whether you’re searching for designer chic, high street bargains or one-offs from little boutiques.
La Calle Colón (Christopher Columbus Street) should be your first stop. Begin at La Plaza de Toros (the bullring), and work your way along this wide, bustling, street. You will find 5 Zaras, 2 Mangos, 2 Cortefiels, Blanco, 3 El Corte Inglés’, underwear stores Oysho and Women’Secret, Bershka, Stradivarius, Massimo Dutti for great smart workwear, Promod and many more. Essential casual menswear stores along Colón include Springfield and Pull & Bear, but ultra elegant Spanish designers Purificación García, Adolfo Dominguez and Armand Basi are also a must, and most of these also do fab Ladies’ clothes too, so not all is lost! Emporio Armani is here too! As you reach the other end of Colón, the whole area either side of the road is riddled with great stores, whether it’s Furla, Accesori, MiSako, and all the shoe shops on La Calle Jorge Juan, for accessories, bags and footwear. If it's home furnishings you want, Artikel, Bañon, La Oca. Zara Home and La Galería Jorge Juan, you will, there is no doubt, find what you need.
A must see is the Mercado de Colón, also on Jorge Juan. A recently restored early 20th Century Modernist building, this beautiful marketplace is a lovely place to take a mid-morning break and have a Cappuccino de Verano – a real treat. After you’ve finished on Colón, head out through the back door of El Corte Inglés into La Plaza de Alfonso el Magnánimo, a lovely leafy square with the most fascinating trees in Valencia. Just to the left is the official Valencia Club de Fútbol Shop for all sports fans who may want to take home a V.C.F. shirt!
Walk through the Plaza and you get to the bottom of La Calle de la Paz. There are various sports shops along this very pretty road, including the Quiksilver store, and also some great gift and home stores - Ale Hop is especially great fun. When you reach the new Carolina Herrera store, you are where Designer Store Heaven begins. Turn left along La Calle Poeta Querol for Hermès, Loewe man, Loewe woman, Louis Vuitton, Ermenegildo Zegna, and Roberto Cavalli, with Alex Vidal not far away. If you head to the right at the end of Poeta Querol, up La Calle de las Barcas, you come out into La Plaza del Ayuntamiento, the Town Hall Square. Apart from being a vital visit in the guidebooks, this funny shaped square has some really great boutiques for men and women. For Dolce & Gabbana, Armand Basi, Donna Karan, Bill Tornade, Helmunt Lang, Armani Jeans, Calvin Klein, Evisu, Chevignon, Jean Coloma, and Dirk Bikenberg´s, Miss Sixty, Energie, and Fornarina, Lucio (menswear), Cool*, Para La Cubana, and Kawaleon (also a trendy café with internet access) are great little all-purpose stores with individual pieces for the über trendy. As you walk through the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, you will find La Calle San Vicente running across the top of the square. Turn to the left and you will find jewelry and smart clothes shops, though winding your way behind the ONO cyber café (great for sending some Wish You Were Here emails home!) will find yourself in front of Sofoko for really funky t-shirts at really low prices. They also sell some accessories by Refresh* (the actual shop is in Calle Cadiz,17, nº10). All around this area, round the old Mercado Central (Central Market), are several kooky skate and alternative shops, selling surf and skatewear and handmade jewelry/bags/bongs/piercings etc, Malasaña, La Pulga and Ghetto are three important stops round this area.
Carry on up La Plaza del Mercado and right up Bolsería, you are now in El Barrio del Carmen. On Bolsería and then left at the end into La Plaza del Tossal and La Calle Quart there are some really fab fashion forward shops, from Custo Barcelona, Komomolo, The Place and Sunset to Modern Look Industries and the Sixty Nine Shop, there is no way you won’t find something you like, but be prepared for some fairly hefty pricetags. Have an explore around this area, the true little gems are well hidden, but you’ll be glad you had a root around. And you’re probably absolutely exhausted after all that shopping so stay around for a meal, the Carmen is full of excellent eateries.
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HOT TIPS! Start your day either as early as possible, bearing in mind most shops open at 10 a.m., and hit the big chain stores between 2 and 5p.m. when everyone else is having lunch or siesta-ing, to avoid the crowds. However, smaller shops do close at these times so take this into account when planning your day.
In the heat of June and July you might even like to head out to a shopping centre (centro comercial), to stay in the cool of the Air Con and see all shops under one roof, though obviously you won’t get to see the incredible architecture. We recommend Centro Comercial El Saler, opposite the City of Arts and Sciences.
It is hot here! As you’re shopping you tend not to realise how dehydrated you get. Make sure you stop and drink plenty of water – bottled water is cheap as chips and all over Valencia are little quioscos (kiosks) that sell everything from sweeties and chewing gum to magazines and newspapers- and of course that much-needed Agua! Look out for little green huts or little doorways filled with magazines.
As you are wandering around the town, don't forget to look up! Some of Spain's most beautiful architecture is here, and the tops of many of the buildings are adorned with turrets, towers and even dragons!
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Here are the Shopping centres and department stores.
AQUA MULTIESPACIO A smart new shopping and eating complex. Menorca, 19 (off Av. Francia) 46023 Valencia http://www.aqua-multiespacio.com Phone34 963 308 429
BONAIRE PARQUE COMERCIAL Y DE OCIO Allegedly one of the biggest shopping centres in Spain. Al Campo (Auchan in France) dominates this one. There is also Boulanger and PC City for Computer and Hifi freaks. More fashion and interior shops, restaurants, Cinemas. Sports shops, and An Outlet section - warning this place can be very smelly on certain days Ctra. N- III Km. 345 (exit 345 Aldaia-Torrent) 46960 Aldaia (Valencia) http://www.bonaire.es gerencia@bonaire.es Phone 34 96 157 92 24 Fax 34 96 192 10 83
CENTRO COMERCIAL ADEMUZ Actually Hipercor - a huge version of El Corte Ingles, strangely laid out as a multi floor supermarket of everything Avda. Pío XII, 51 46015 Valencia http://www.elcorteingles.es c.c.ademuz@elcorteingles.es Phone 34 963 469 000 Fax 34 963 484 448
CENTRO COMERCIAL EL SALER A very attractive shopping, cinema, food centre with a Carrefour. By the City of Arts and Sciences Autopista de El Saler, 16 46013 Valencia http://www.elsaler.com ccelsaler@infonegocio.com Phone 34 963 957 012 Fax 34 963 742 906
CENTRO COMERCIAL GRAN TURIA Dominated by a huge Carrefour, cinemas and lots of shops Plaza Europa, s/n 46950 Xirivella (Valencia) http://www.granturia.com info@granturia.com Phone 34 963 503 222 Fax 34 963 503 557
CENTRO COMERCIAL LAS AMÉRICAS Av. País Valencià, 182 46900 Torrent (Valencia) Phone 34 961 566 671
CENTRO COMERCIAL NUEVO CENTRO Over 30' shops selling just about everything - including a branch of Mercdona, the supermarket. Avda. Pío XII, 2, 4 y 6 46009 Valencia http://www.nuevocentro.es admin@nuevocentro.es Phone 34 963 471 642 Fax 34 963 476 061
EL CORTE INGLÉS-HOGAR The home, electrics, books, ironmongery branch of this Massive Spanish Chain Colón, 27 46004 Valencia http://www.elcorteingles.es servicio_clientes@elcorteingles.es Phone 34 963 159 500 Fax 34 963 513 475
EL CORTE INGLÉS-MODA The fashion branch of this Massive Spanish Chain Pintor Sorolla, 26 46002 Valencia http://www.elcorteingles.es servicio_clientes@elcorteingles.es Phone 34 963 159 500 Fax 34 963 513 475
EL CORTE INGLÉS The newest branch all glass and very stylish Pintor Maella, 37 (Avda. de Francia) 46028 Valencia http://www.elcorteingles.es servicio_clientes@elcorteingles.es Phone 34 963 350 500 Fax 34 963 350 547
EL CORTE INGLÉS The Young Fashion Branch Colón,1 46004 Valencia http://www.elcorteingles.es servicio_clientes@elcorteingles.es Phone 34 963 159 500 Fax 34 963 513 475
EL CORTE INGLÉS Menéndez Pidal, 15; 46009 Valencia http://www.elcorteingles.es servicio_clientes@elcorteingles.es Phone 34 963 175 700 Fax 34 963 400 336
EL CORTE INGLÉS-ADEMUZ Two branches selling everything of this Massive Spanish Chain Pío XII, 51 46015 Valencia Phone34 963 469 000
EL OSITO, PARQUE COMERCIAL Y DE OCIO Carrefour, Cinemas, bars and shops and now a new centre with more shops Autovía Valencia-Liria, Exits 12 or 13 46183 L'Eliana (Valencia) elosito@teleline.es Phone 34 962 750 695 Fax 34 962 750 695
GALERÍA COMERCIAL D. JUAN DE AUSTRIA Mainly fashion, and an interior shop. D. Juan de Austria, 4 46002 Valencia gc_austria@hotmail.com Phone 34 963 512 333 Fax 34 963 521 575
HERON CITY PATERNA More of an entertainment centre, though there are some shops. Cinema Complex, Health Club, Bowling Alley, Discotheque Guru, and tons of bars and restaurants. Autovía Valencia-Liria, Exits 6 or 7 46980 Paterna (Valencia) http://www.heroncity.com informacion@heroncityvalencia.com Phone 34 963 160 298 Fax 34 963 900 196
LA GALERÍA JORGE JUAN Small and upmarket shopping centre between Colón and Gran Via Marques del Turía, just by the beautiful Mercado de Colón Jorge Juan, 21 46004 Valencia http://www.lagaleriajorgejuan.com info@lagaleriajorgejuan.com Phone 34 963 524 966 Fax 34 963 943 073
MN4 Newish Shopping/food/cinema Cente off the A7 towards Alicante Nacional 332 (Pista de Silla) Exit Sedaví Alfafar. Avda Alcalde José Puertes esquina Pérez Llácer, s/n 46910 Alfafar http://www.mn4.com Phone34 963 182 580 Fax34 963 182 590
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