Part 2 Shopping for Authentic Spanish Gifts or Souvenirs – Olive Oil products, Ceramics and La Violeta
Hola Chicos!
La Violeta
Perhaps my most favorite store in Madrid would be La Violeta located in Plaza Canalejas. It is such a lovely old fashioned candy shop and it is visually very pleasing. La Violeta sells violet candy and porcelain trinkets with violets painted on them. Such care is taken with the display of their products and equal care is taken when you are purchasing a gift from them as each item is individually wrapped and tied with a violet ribbon. Highly recommended if you wish to purchase a gift for a special lady in your life.
La Chinata
A good friend of mine introduced me to La Chinata, a store that sells gourmet products made from olive oil. I was very surprised at the quality of the products and the very good prices also. I purchased a gift pack of olive oil and vinegar, olive oil soaps and some chocolate olive almonds all for less than 10 Euros. I have since taken friends and family to this shop and rarely have they left without purchasing something.
Cantaro
I must admit that my weakness in Spain is the ceramics. Cantaro is a store located a street or so away from the Gran Via that sells ceramics and pottery pieces that are popular all over Spain. You will notice that each piece is different and the style and colour of the hand painted decorations reveal its place of origin. As we have travelled throughout Spain my husband and I have built up quite a collection . I love the concept of purchasing pieces that are so useful but also so beautiful that they can be hung on the wall.
Whilst the very rich and Spanish Royalty were decorating ceramics elaborately, the rural people stuck to the practical terracotta clay cookware that could be used to cook in the oven and then keep the meal sizzling on the table. We have also started to build a great collection of these traditional terracotta ceramics called Cazuela dishes that are available to purchase in any ferreteria or hardware store.
Do you have any favorite stores in Madrid that you take visitors to? What Spanish products do you buy to send as gifts?
Hasta Luego chicos y mil besos!