Nobody should leave Madrid without packing a few of the typical products of the region into their suitcase
A quick stroll around the area near Madrid's Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol and a visit to the traditional centres of many cities in the Madrid region can get you out of many a tight spot: you're bound to find something there to take back for your friends and family.
In the Calle Mayor there are shops which sell religious articles, as well as candles and traditional ceramic items, and if anyone in your circle of friends likes strumming the guitar, we have the perfect gift: a guitar with the hallmark of Félix Manzanero, one of the foremost craftsmen of string instruments.
You can find guitars here, and in the Guitarrería de Manuel Contreras, for a whole range of prices up to more than 6,000 euros, but there are also guitars to be had for very reasonable prices and with acceptable quality levels.
The less well-off will be happy with the thrill of maybe winning something in the National Lottery with a 'décimo' bought in one of the most famous lottery outlets in Spain, Doña Manolita, or to leave Madrid with a delicious taste in the mouth thanks to the sweets from Caramelos Paco or some sugary souvenirs from La Violeta.
From a craftsman's workshop...
These artisans are the inheritors of the everyday activities of our forebears, and were for many years the mainstays of a large part of the economy. The passage of time and the mechanisms of mass production have now relegated craftsmen to a secondary role.
You can still find establishments in our region which offer products from bygone eras, such as embroidered silk shawls, Spanish capes, embossed walking sticks, and even bullfighter's suits. If you take a walk down Calle Jardines near the Puerta del Sol, you are likely to come across the Taller de Maestra Nati ('Maestra' Nati's workshop).
Natividad de Frutos used to make by hand the 'suits of lights' worn by numerous bullfighters, and all the accessories that went with them. In these artisan trades, skills are passed down from generation to generation, and so it is in this particular case; today the shop is run by Natividad's daughter and grandson. Nati was the first woman to dress a bullfighter, something which was previously done exclusively by men.
Fans, walking sticks and umbrellas
Made of ebony, mahogany and ivory... Casa Mier makes walking-stick handles in any material. The descendents of Manuel Mier de Miguel still make walking sticks which finish up as collector's items, and whose prestige rivals that of the capes made by Capas Seseña.
The Spanish cape, or cloak, is one of the most distinguished garments, and although they went out of fashion, they continued to be made in Madrid thanks to the determination of the tailor Santos Seseña. In 1901 he set up his business and produced capes which were worn by the likes of Gary Cooper, Federico Fellini and Catherine Deneuve.
And if the cape reminds you of the winter cold, the fan will bring to mind the stifling heat of summer. If you want to buy yourself one of these typically Spanish objects, Casa Diego has a wide range of fans, ranging from the simplest through to pieces which are elaborately decorated with a wealth of exquisite detail. They have been in the business for more than 175 years; that is, almost six generations of fan artists. This is almost the same number of years that La Favorita has been making hats and berets, as well as top hats and bowler hats.
Browsing amid antiques
And don't forget the markets which can be found scattered throughout the city. The most typical of these is the the Rastro, where every Sunday we can find everything under the sun; but each district has its own market, as in the case of the Tetuán market in Marqués de Viana. There are also markets on specific themes, such as the stamp and coin markets which are set up every non-working day under the arches in the Plaza Mayor square.
And along these lines, the Plaza Conde de Barajas square on Sundays is the place to be for collectors of paintings, and every Saturday the best crafts in the region are on display in the Plaza de las Comendadoras square. Books can always be found on the stalls of the Cuesta Moyano hill, near the Paseo del Prado and the Atocha station. As you can see, in Madrid we have something for everyone.
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