La Diagonal Shopping District in Barcelona

Barcelona is full of some of the best shopping districts in Spain. Here you can purchase souvenirs, fresh produce, clothing, flea market good, and even furniture if you were so inclined. Some of the districts are newer, born from the refurbishment of the city for the 1992 Olympic Games, and some -the really neat ones- are centuries old. One such district is La Diagonal, a crisscross of streets where you can easily walk from one shop to another. The districts are referred to as Plazas in the tourist guides and maps available at the front desk of just about any hotel; simply choose a plaza close to your accommodations and you're good for the day. La Diagonal is the most popular because it is centrally located. Choose to eat lunch in one of the many quaint cafes or go to the open market for fresh meats and cheeses to pack a picnic lunch for your visit to the Zoo or one of the many parks, or simply stop at one of the newspaper stands and pick up some reading material for an afternoon of taking it easy-during the siesta time from 1:30 -5p.m. when the other shops are typically closed.