SHOPPING IN MADRID

Madrid offers its visitors a dazzling gamut of souvenirs. Markets in Madrid are often specialized, hence makes it easy for you to find a variety of what you are looking for in the same place. Products such as olive oil, shawls, gloves or other general commodities can be found in abundance along the streets between the Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol. Other unique souvenirs include velvet bulls, nodding donkeys and flamenco dolls. Madrid's famous flea market is Rastro where antiques as well as cheap second-hand clothes are available in profusion. Casa Postal has hundreds of thousands of wonderful postcards of Madrid dating from 1940 as well as postcards of other countries on sale whereas Escudo de Granada has ample handcrafted porcelain figurines and delicate hand-embroidered silk shawls. For virgin olive oil of high quality, you should by no means miss the store La Oleoteca.

The Westin Palace Madrid - Overlooking The Neptune Fountain And Its Quiet Plaza, The Westin Palace Lies Opposite The Prado And Thyssen-bornemisza Museums And Is Two Blocks From The Reina Sofia Art Centre. The Palatial Hotel Was Built In 1912 On The Former Site Of The Palace Of The Duke And Duchess Of Medinaceli. The Entrance Hall, Decorated With Murals Of Italian Renaissance Gardens, Leads Through To Rotunda Hall Which Is Crowned With An Art Nouveau Glass Dome. The 466 Guestrooms Are Decorated In Belle Epoque Style.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Hotel Finisterre - A Red Brick Hotel Situated Just To The South Of Central Madrid, 150 Meters From Puerta De Toledo. The 89 Guestrooms Are Simply Furnished In Dark Wood And Pastel Tones. All Are Equipped With Private Bathrooms, Safes, Satellite Television And Air Conditioning.

Regente Hotel - T Features 154 Air- Conditioned Guestrooms Furnished In Dark Wood With Simply-styled Furnishings, All Include Satellite Television, Direct-dial Phones, Wireless Internet, Safes And Bathrooms With Baths, Showers And Hairdryers.