A multi-faceted craft
In terms of materials, clay, metals, vegetable vibes, leather and wood are the main natural elements used for the manual elaboration of traditional objects. Among the most widespread handicrafts, you will find carpets, baskets, lace, furniture and of course ceramics. Traditional ceramics are one of the strong points of the Spanish craft tradition. You will have the opportunity to discover it in Andalusia, in the form of decorative tiles like the azulejos of Seville; with an inimitable green color like that of Ubeda; or recognizable by its green and blue colors and its decorative motifs (birds, flowers...) like the Fajalauja, from Granada, direct heritage of the Nazari expertise. Other stops on this journey include Valencia, which is still the leading exporter of ceramics in Spain and whose objects made in Paterna and Manises are recognizable by their golden, brown and copper floral motifs. In Castilla-La Mancha, blue and yellow plant motifs characterize the famous ceramics of Talavera de la Reina and adorn many public spaces such as gardens and fountains. This journey will also take you to Galicia to admire the famous ceramics of Sargadelos, which date back to 1806 and whose blue geometric shapes, often drawn with a brush, adorn coffee pots, candle holders or plates. And if you are looking for this type of object, you can also visit the Bisbal d'Empordà, in Catalonia, which has maintained the tradition of ceramics since the 13th century, and whose dominant colors are navy blue, bottle green and straw yellow, as well as the glazed finish of most pieces.
From damascene to espadrilles and lace
Another area that has been perpetuated using ancestral methods is metalworking, as evidenced by the knife industry in Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha. A tradition brought by the Moors and which reached its peak in the eighteenth century. In the same community, in Toledo, it is the damascene (making figures and designs by inlaying wire and gold and silver leaf on steel or iron) that comes to decorate swords, plates, boxes and even jewelry. In Andalusia, woodwork is embodied in multiple inlaid objects (chess boards, checkers, boxes or tables), with a particular skill in Granada, the Taracea, an inlay in wood of different materials and metals. Many other regions such as Extremadura (chestnut) or Navarra (boxwood) perpetuate wood craftsmanship but it is in the Basque Country that you will find a real local treasure, the makila. This walking stick hides a steel point inside its knob. It is a unique object, with the name and motto of the owner engraved on the pommel, and is usually given from father to son. As an honorary title, John Paul II, General de Gaulle, Georges Pompidou and François Mitterrand, were offered one. To obtain beautiful laces, one can go to Almagro, in Castilla-La Mancha or to Galicia to discover the know-how of the lacemakers practicing the art of the spindle (palilleras), in the small town of Camariñas. In addition to these local treasures, a trip to Spain can also be an opportunity to bring back some particularly emblematic objects of this destination. First of all, a fan(abanico) that you will find absolutely everywhere, and at all prices even if those that required the work of a score of craftsmen reach very high sums. It will also be the Mecca of the espadrille(alpargatas), traditional or the latest fashion, sometimes with the possibility of customizing them. For men's headgear, you can opt for the sombrero cordobés, a felt with a wide and flat edge, with a low and cylindrical cut. Or finally, why not bring back a Chistera? A traditional wicker glove that you can use to practice pelota or as a decorative object.
A well-stocked gourmet basket
Your trip will give you the opportunity to taste a whole range of new flavors. If some dishes or local products will be difficult to incorporate in your luggage, you will nevertheless be able to compose a gourmet basket, to revive the memories once back home or to please your friends. Of course, you will make a place of choice for the flagship product of Spain, the Iberian ham, jamón ibérico. To guarantee your purchases, an official standard (January 10, 2014) defines the designations and labeling of this product, depending on its breed, method of rearing and diet. All you have to do is follow the color code. Black, this is the Iberian ham known as Bellota, produced from 100% Iberian pigs and fed on acorns. This is the top of the range and the only one that can be called " pata negra ". Red, it concerns pigs of partially Iberian race, from 50 to 70%, but also fed on acorns. Green, it concerns, for example, the jamón de campo ibérico. It is raised on Iberian land, dehesa, oak grove or in the open country, but fed on fodder, cereals and legumes. White ham is made from Iberian pigs raised on farms and fed exclusively on cereals and legumes. In addition, there are four hams with a Designation of Origin: DOP jabugo, produced in the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park (Andalusia, province of Huelva); DOP Los Pedroches, produced in the province of Cordoba. DOP Dehesa de Extremadura, produced in the cork and holm oak dehesas of Cáceres and Badajoz. DOP Guijuelo, produced in more than 70 communities in the south of the region of Salamanca (Castilla y León) and which represents 60% of Spanish Iberian ham production. In the beverages section, don't hesitate to bring back a few bottles of wines that have already made a good name for themselves abroad, such as those from Rioja, Ribera del Duero (Castilla y León) or Jerez and Malaga in Andalusia. But you should know that in total, the country has more than 90 designations of origin that you are almost sure to come across, whatever your tour. On the other hand, you will have to go to Asturias, to discover the local cider and especially a way of drinking it, very specific to this region and very different from ours. Without being France, Spain will allow you to discover some remarkable cheeses. Each region produces at least one specialty, but it would be a shame to leave without one or three of the most famous cheeses. The manchego that you will learn to appreciate, from the most tender, 2 months(tierno) to the oldest (viejo or añejo), 12 months, passing by the semi curado, from 2 to 4 months, and of which you will know how to recognize the rind, natural and not made of kerosene, and rubbed with virgin olive oil to give it aromas and flavors. To be sure to buy an artisanal manchego, you must have 3 elements: the drawing of the Quijote and the mentions " artesano " and " leche cruda". Less well known is Torta del Casar, a cheese produced in Casar de Cáceres (Extremadura), made from local sheep's milk, characterized by its light rind and very creamy interior texture and also has a controlled origin. Cabrales is also a product from Asturias, made from cow, goat or sheep's milk and is similar to our Roquefort cheese. Another emblematic product that will complete your basket is olive oil, this "liquid gold" whose cultivation has progressed greatly in recent decades. Long limited to the Mediterranean area, it has spread to all regions and Spain now produces half of the world's olive oil and has 32 extra virgin olive oil designations of origin. Andalusia has the longest history with it. For a long time the most renowned in this field, the province of Cordoba is now joined by the province of Jaén, the largest producer in Andalusia, which is now very involved in the conquest of quality. Finally, as there will always be a small place for canned food, think of the anchovies from Santoña (Cantabria) and Escala (Catalonia), or the peppers from Padrón (Galicia). In addition, they will be inexpensive
As close as possible to the producer
It will not escape you that the made in china has somewhat invaded the centers a little too tourist. To be avoided. When shopping, prefer small boutiques or workshops that will easily open their doors to you, to souvenir stores, more central but not very authentic. Many cities such as Seville, Badajoz, Cáceres, Murcia, Lorca or Valencia, among others, have opened craft centers that show you a panorama of what is produced in the region: leather bags, silk paintings, fans, nativity scenes, jewelry... as well as the contact information of the craftsmen. This is a guarantee of quality, so don't hesitate to visit them to buy but also to get an idea of the local productions. Before you leave, ask about possible fairs or craft markets. In terms of gourmet baskets, you can always find very good products in the "gourmet" areas of the Corte Inglés, which will be present in almost every city, but this should be reserved for last-minute purchases, in case you forget. It is of course preferable to go to the local markets(mercados) which are also present in almost every town and village. But for many products such as ham, wine, cheese and oil, it is best to discover them by visiting the places of production. For example, the wine routes of the Spanish Association of Wine Cities (Acevin) offer wine tours that include visits to wineries, explanations of the production process and wine tasting. Some municipalities have even set up "wine buses" that allow for a safe discovery and many wineries also offer tours of their facilities and tastings. Andalusia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, the Valencian Community, Aragon and Catalonia have also set up wine tours, with visits to production sites and tastings. As for the tasting workshops organized by the ham producers, they will also teach you the process of breeding and... the art of cutting, with a diploma
