Alicante Shopping
Shopping in Alicante, Spain may just be the best experience a shopping aficionado could ever imagine. The main streets of Rambla de Méndez Núñez and Avenida Maisonnave and the adjoining streets are notorious for their abundance of shops. The Rambla de Méndez Núñez offers a choice of individually owned stores, and stores with designer products; specialty shops, boutiques, and department stores abound. Shoppers can buy shoes, jewelry, fashion clothes and home decorations. On the Avendia Maisonnave, is two branches of the El Corte Ingles, the largest department store chain in Spain. At one end of the street a branch sells fashion, jewelry and cosmetics; the branch at the other end of the street sells household products and contains a small café and supermarket.
In Alicante’s old quarter, El Barrio, shoppers will find a multitude of small stores. Shoppers can forego the souvenier shops and browse through locally crafted goods. Agost ceramics, Crevillente woven rugs and bags from Gata de Gorgos are just a sampling of what treasures await.
On the outskirts of Alicante, there are several shopping centers of note. Gran Via is the largest with a large selection of shops that sell anything a shopper could want; plus a few cafes for needed respite from long hours of shopping. The Panoramis Complex is a huge area with shops, restaurants, bars and a 13-screen cinema, a virtual cornucopia of entertainment and shopping. In addition to the more traditional shops, Alicante’s Mercado Central is a two-floor market teeming with shellfish, meat, fresh fruit, flowers and much more.
The Mercado Central is open Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Most shops in Alicante open between 9:30 and 10 a.m. and close between 1:30 and 2 p.m. for lunch. They reopen around 5 to 8 p.m. on weekdays. Generally on Saturdays they are open for a half day and closed on Sundays; though some of the larger stores do stay open for the full day on Saturday and Sunday.
Shopping in Alicante isn’t complete without a purchase of the local delicacy, turrón, which is a delicious nut nougat. Whether purchasing local arts and crafts, leatherwork or costume jewelry from the street vendors, the shopping experience in Alicante will satisfy the most ardent shopper.