Shopping and Handicrafts
In ceramics, the shopper will find a wide range of qualities and sizes, with Manises as the undisputed traditional centre of production. Tavernes Blanques is the home of porcelanas Lladró, a firma which exports all over the world. To earthenware and pottery must be added the craft of vegetable fibre applied to furniture and household equipment, as seen in the towns of Vallada, Montesa, Navarrés and L´Olleria. This last town, together with Llosa de Ranes, also supplies a full catalogue of handmade glassware. Craftwork in wood, which led to the thriving furniture industry, is to be found in Alboraya, Xirivella and Torrent, while Sagunto is the place for handicrafts in cork. Connected in a way to this raw material, the towns of Aldaida, Alacuas, Godella and Valencia show fine craftsmanship in fan making, going from the simplest to the mos sophisticated models, made with mother of pearl and patient by hand. If the shopper is on the lookout for foodstuffs, he will find a wide variety of sausages, confectionery a bakery product at the bake houses and cake shops, not to mention rice and citrus fruits and other fruits which are more usual in the inland area. The visitor should also taste the delicious red and white wines.
Fairs
Valencia is a popular place for business travelling. Its International Trade Fair (963861100), founded in 1917, is the oldest in Spain. In the course of the year, about 50 different shows take place in the spacious fair enclosure situated in Benimamet. The most important ones concern the promotion of innovations in furniture, market gardening, toys, ceramics, textiles, children's fashion and jewellery. There are also regional and local fairs displaying farm produce and machinery, handicrafts, old and modern books, sausages, wine and antiques. Markets
Open in mornings until about 1-2 pm.
Monday: Moncada , Pobla da Valbona (very good).
Tuesday Huge market selling all types of clothes fabrics, shoes, bags etc in central Valencia by the Estacion del Norte , metro stop Xativa.
Well worth a visit. Closes at 1-2pm
Also good local market in Betera
Wednesday: L’Eliana - good for towels and same range as Carrefour but cheaper.
Saturday: Rocafort Plaza - small fruit and veg market with some clothes stalls.
Sunday English and Spainish market in La Pobla its HUGE.
Opens at 8am and Closes at 2pm
Rastro, or flea market next to the Valencia Football Stadium and in the Rotunda near the Central Marcado.
The Central Mercado in Valencia is open every day until 2pm for all types of fresh food. Food can be delivered.
The Malvarosa Beach market is open in the summer from Thursday until Sunday from late afternoon into the evening.
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