Shopping - The Rough Guide to Barcelona - page 363

Sales The annual sales ( rebaixes , rebajas ) follow the main fashion seasons - mid-January
until the end of February, and throughout July and August.
Tax refunds Non-EU residents can get an IVA (ie VAT) refund on each purchase over the
value of €90.16; if there's a “Tax-Free Shopping” sticker displayed at the store ( premier-
taxfree.com ) , ask for the voucher and claim the refund at the airport before leaving.
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ANTIQUES
L'Arca c/dels Banys Nous 20, Barri Gòtic 933 021 598, larca.es ; Liceu; map .
Catalan brides used to fill up their nuptial trunk ( arca ) with embroidered bed linen and lace,
and this shop is a treasure-trove of vintage and antique textiles. Period (eighteenth to early
twentieth century) costumes can be hired or purchased as well - one of Kate Winslet's Tit-
anic costumes came from here. Mon-Sat 11am-2pm & 4.30-8.30pm; closed Mon as well as
Sat afternoons in Aug.
Bulevard dels Antiquaris Pg. de Gràcia 55-57, Dreta de l'Eixample 932 154 499,
bulevarddelsantiquaris.com ; Passeig de Gràcia; map . An arcade with over seventy shops
full of antiques of all kinds, from toys and dolls to Spanish ceramics and African art.
Mon-Sat 10am-8.30pm; closed Sat in Aug.
Mercantic c/RiusiTaulet120,SantCugatdelVallès 936744950, mercantic.com ;FGC
Sant Cugat. This permanent antiques and collectables market is out in the suburbs but makes
a great trip for casual browsers and serious collectors alike. You'll find everything from fur-
niture to farm machinery, old radios to vintage jewellery, postcards to erotic drawings, plus
an outdoor flea market (Sun until 3pm), weekly lot auctions (Sat) and trade markets (1st Sun
of each month). Tues-Sat 9.30am-8pm, Sun 9.30am-3pm; closed 3 weeks in Aug.
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ARTS, CRAFTS AND GIFTS
Artesania Catalunya c/dels Banys Nous 11, Barri Gòtic 934 674 660, artesania-
catalunya.com ; Liceu; map . It's always worth a look in the “Emprentes de Catalunya”
showroomofthelocalgovernment'sartsandcraftspromotionboard.Exhibitionschange,but
most of the work is contemporary in style, from basketwork to glassware, though traditional
methods are still very much encouraged. Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-2pm.
CereriaSubirà Bxda. de la Llibreteria 7, Barri Gòtic 933 152 606, cereriasubira.net ;
JaumeI; map . Barcelona'soldestshop(it'sbeenhere1760)hasabeautifulinterior,andsells
unique handcrafted candles. Mon-Fri 9.30am-1.30pm & 4-8pm, Sat 10am-2pm & 5-8pm.
Espai Drap Art c/d'en Groc 1, Barri Gòtic 932 684 889, drapart.net ; Jaume I;
map The Drap-Art creative recycling organization has a shop and exhibition space for artists