It's a well-known fact that Europe is the epicentre of world fashion. The continent's most glamorous cities play host to some of the world's best designer boutiques and high-street stores.
Shopping in Barcelona is much more of a cultural experience than perhaps anywhere else. Barcelona has a strong architectural identity and mirroring that is vast array of local brands and craftsmen that reflect the city's Spanish flair.
One vast shopping street called Avinguda Diagonal is home to all the usual high street and international designers. This is one of the city's most important avenues, and the 50 metre wide street is lined with various shopping centres. A number of impressive building can also be found here including the Torre Agbar.
Head to Placa de Sant Josep Oriol for a more local atmosphere. Bustling with street buskers and artists, this is a small but attractive plaza, home to a number of quaint shops and traditional cafes and restaurants, with a few designer boutiques thrown in.
Venice may be best known for its maze of canals, but it also offers shopping districts to rival those in more modern European cities. Mercerie is a chain of historic shopping streets that extend from the Rialto Bridge to Piazza San Marco. When translated, Mercerie means haberdashery, so it's not surprising, then, that down this narrow shopping street you will find yourself stumbling across some quirky stores selling everything from carnival masks and kitsch souvenirs to premium leather goods.
Local crafts that have been produced in the area for centuries are what Venice is best known for, including glassware from Murano, the cartapesta (papier-mache) Carnevale masks and delicate lace from Burano. These goods are all incredibly popular, although there are also many cheap knock-offs that are frequently mistaken for the real thing. Taking place three times a year though is the Mercatino dell'Antiquariato (antiques fair) in Campo San Maurizio, which will allow you to get your hands on the real thing.
Shopping in Barcelona is much more of a cultural experience than perhaps anywhere else. Barcelona has a strong architectural identity and mirroring that is vast array of local brands and craftsmen that reflect the city's Spanish flair.
One vast shopping street called Avinguda Diagonal is home to all the usual high street and international designers. This is one of the city's most important avenues, and the 50 metre wide street is lined with various shopping centres. A number of impressive building can also be found here including the Torre Agbar.
Head to Placa de Sant Josep Oriol for a more local atmosphere. Bustling with street buskers and artists, this is a small but attractive plaza, home to a number of quaint shops and traditional cafes and restaurants, with a few designer boutiques thrown in.
Venice may be best known for its maze of canals, but it also offers shopping districts to rival those in more modern European cities. Mercerie is a chain of historic shopping streets that extend from the Rialto Bridge to Piazza San Marco. When translated, Mercerie means haberdashery, so it's not surprising, then, that down this narrow shopping street you will find yourself stumbling across some quirky stores selling everything from carnival masks and kitsch souvenirs to premium leather goods.
Local crafts that have been produced in the area for centuries are what Venice is best known for, including glassware from Murano, the cartapesta (papier-mache) Carnevale masks and delicate lace from Burano. These goods are all incredibly popular, although there are also many cheap knock-offs that are frequently mistaken for the real thing. Taking place three times a year though is the Mercatino dell'Antiquariato (antiques fair) in Campo San Maurizio, which will allow you to get your hands on the real thing.
About the Author:
Steve Alexander is a travel writer with a good knowledge of shopping in Barcelona. More information on accommodation in Barcelona can be found by visiting Hotels4U, as well as cheap deals on hotels in Venice.
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