Spain is no longer the bargain it used to be. Nevertheless, the country offers unique handcrafted items: contemporary and antique paintings and sculpture, knotted rugs, guitars, ornate handmade shawls, decorative pottery, handmade furniture, and ornamental combs and fans. Other items found in Spain are Lladro (Spanish porcelain), copper and steel wares, leather goods (purses, shoes, wallets), North African goods from Morocco and Algeria, and Spanish antiques (especially on Calle del Prado in Madrid). Regional specialties include various local liqueurs and wines; gold in Toledo; exquisite lace embroideries in the towns of Torrijos, Oropesa and Lagartera; and ceramics in Talavera, Illescas, Cuenca, Numancia de la Sagra and Mariges (Valencia).
Shopping Hours: Monday-Friday 9:30 am-1 pm and 4-8 pm, Saturday 9:30 am-1 pm.
Day By Day
Spain is such a varied country that it requires several visits (or several months) to do it justice. A week should be spent in each region of Spain to gain a true understanding of it. Two weeks is the preferred length for each trip, but if only one week is available, the following itinerary could be used for a broad overview of the country (if you only have a week and would rather see Barcelona, begin your itinerary on Day 8):
Day 1—Arrive Madrid.
Day 2—Madrid.
Day 3—Travel to Toledo.
Day 4—Travel to Cordoba.
Day 5—Travel to Granada.
Day 6—Travel to Seville.
Day 7—Seville.
Day 8—Depart Spain.
If you have an extra day or two, take an excursion to the White Villages from Seville, using Cadiz or Jerez de la Frontera as a base.
If an additional week is available, continue with the following:
Day 8—Fly to Barcelona.
Day 9—Barcelona.
Day 10—Day trip to Girona (or a Costa Brava town, such as Sitges or Figueres).
Day 11—Fly to San Sebastian.
Day 12—Day trip to Bilbao or elsewhere in the Basque region.
Day 13—Fly or take train back to Madrid or Barcelona.
Day 14—Depart Spain (from Madrid or Barcelona).
