Flea/Street Markets: 2004
Where did you find that fabulous souvenir? Let us know where you've found your favorite items in Europe.
best markets
We had the distict pleasure of visiting the vast and exhaustive antiques market in Arezzo Italy last week. It is held the first Sunday of the month. Over 600 vendors and thousands of people! This was the most amazing experience. Never heard or encountered another American while in town. The food at the osteria was outstanding. While not on the tourist trail, this Sunday in Arezzo was worth the whole week. Were it not for our good friend who lives in Florence we would have missed this slice of Italian life!
Randall Ashcraft
Leesburg, VA USA Sat 11/13/2004
Carboot sales uk
A great website to find carboot sales in United Kingdom is www.carboots.tk - Southam near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire has fantastic ones on Saturdays and Sundays in the summer. There are hundreds of sellers and it's mainly second hand - not too many traders. I've bough loads of windsurfing kit there.
www.carboots.tk also has a page of links to websites of carboot sales outside the uk - e.g. rest of Europe, Australia, South Africa
john
Coventry, Uk Fri 10/08/2004
Zurich Flea Market
Zurich has a great flea market on Saturday mornings near Banhofstrasse. It was much larger than the one in Lucerne. If you stay at the Hotel Helmhaus you can easily walk to the flea market.
Tim Mynatt
Knoxville, TN USA Thu 08/26/2004
London-Bermondsey Market
Held on Friday mornings, Bermondsey is worth getting up early for. I was on the tube at 6am, got off at London Bridge and walked along Tooley St. On the left, before I came to Tower Bridge Rd., I noticed a park -- you can get specatular photos of Tower Bridge from this park (all lit up in the early morning). Find your way down Bermonsey St -- the market forms a triangle with Long Lane. Lots of silver here -- prices varied, and I found lots to choose from (silver toast racks, and spoon sets with leather cases, etc.). Many antique shops/markets in the area as well. I left there and walked over Tower Bridge to meet my tour group at the Tower of London. Walking over the bridge was one of my high points -- wonderful views from all around.
Sue
Philadelphia, PA USA Fri 07/23/2004
San Lorenzo Markets
Before we left for our family trip to Italy we were told that it would be difficult to buy gifts because everything was so expensive. The street markets at San Lorenzo were great for shopping. Stationary, pocketbooks, t-shirts, and lots of costume jewelery for the teenage daughters. Not able to bargain much with the sellers, but that didn't stop us.
Kay Lindblom
North Attleboro, MA USA Sun 07/18/2004
thrift shops
Does anyone have any good sources for listings of thrift shops and/or second hand stores in Italy? I'll be traveling primarily in the North, and am not just looking for designer clothing bargains, but a more misc. collection. Thank you for any pointers.
Julia
San Francisco, USA Wed 07/14/2004
English Car Boot Sales
Not a specific market, but if you have a car and are traveling in Northern England (We were in Yorkshire) on a Sunday morning, check out a Car Boot Sale. Typically held on Sunday mornings, early for the English, about 8:00, it is literally people selling whatever they fit in their Car Trunk (Boot). Ask around, they may be held at a racetrack, Fair Ground, or just a field. Basically just a rummage sale with anything and everything, both everyday folk and dealers, but great bargains.
Paul
IA USA Sun 06/06/2004
markets in paris
I agree with Janice about Rue Cler.
A much more authentic market is the one at Pl Maubert. The one at Pl Monge is great also. I found Rue Cler to be mostly the shops there putting their wares outside.
The other markets mentioned had the acutal producers. Try also the recently reopened Enfants Rouge Market which is actually the oldest continuous market in France. It is at the moment in my book the most authentic market in
Paris...full of locals as most guide books do not even mention it
susanne
Fairfax, Ca USA Thu 05/27/2004
"Feira" markets in Portugal
In Portugal every town has a "Feira" or street market once a week. Each town has it on a different day. They sell anything from clothes, and pots, to music, jewelry and handcrafts. It's not intended for tourists as many Portuguese make their practical purchases there, but you can find some really great things. Many of the vendors are Roma (or Gypsies) who travel from town to town selling. Until modern times, the Roma were not allowed citizenship, or to live within city limits in Portugal. The "Feira" is as interesting as a cultural experience as a shopping one.
Steven Rogers
Minnetonka, MN USA Thu 02/26/2004
Madrid's Rastro Market
The Rastro market on Sunday morning in Madrid is huge. We didn't buy anything, but it was fun to see what other people were buying and try some food that was being sold.
Marie Frank
esko, mn USA Tue 02/24/2004