No matter where you walk in Paris, it’s hard to escape the tacky souvenir stands and shops overflowing with tourist tat that you’ll probably end up buying but will probably never use. Sure, there’s no harm in a miniature Eiffel Tower – they are cute – but are you really going to wear that “I … Read more
Ceret may be a popular destination for art tourists, hikers and long-term holidaymakers, but there are no souvenir shops (thankfully) and aside from picking up some art from one of the galleries and buying beautiful Catalan textile products from La Bohème, there’s little to buy – which makes the supermarket a great place to scout … Read more
A fashion designer who studied Fine Arts at Goldsmiths and Textile Design at Central St Martins in London, Coralie Scarnato moved to Ceret eight years ago and opened La Boheme, a boutique and atelier where she makes and sells her vibrant striped Catalan cloth products, and her own collections of winter clothes. Born in Provence … Read more
Stroll around Ceret for a while and you’ll start to see stripes – Catalan stripes. These bold colourful lines seem to enliven everything here in the village from screens in bistros to pot-plants on windowsills, and even appear on plastic shopping bags. In boutiques and gift shops, you’ll find them brightening anything from summery espadrilles to … Read more
Best Barcelona artisanal food shops for edible souvenirs range from a charmingly old-fashioned, 150 year old specialty food store selling spices, teas, coffees, nuts, and chocolates to the sleek shop of the contemporary chocolatiers who changed chocolate making. In a gastronomic centre such as the Catalan capital, it makes sense that the best Barcelona take-homes would be edible … Read more