Mercado de la Esperanza
Santander
Copyright: Ingrid Balabanova/Shutterstock.comMercado de la Esperanza
This covered market is housed inside a late 19th-century building on the street just behind the Ayuntamiento, aptly named Calle El Mercado. Here you can join the locals browsing stalls selling freshly caught fish, local cheese and sausages, as well as fruit, vegetables, and flowers.
Shopping
Santander’s shopping district is in its bustling centre. The streets around the Ayuntamiento–Artigas, Juan Herrera, Burgos and Cubo, for example, are good for everything from clothing to shoes to sportswear, as are Vargas and San Fernando. For boutiques and upmarket clothing, take a stroll along the Avenida de Calvo Sotelo. There are two large commercial centres in Santander, both located a short drive out of town — Valle Real and the well-known Spanish department store chain instalment El Corte Inglés.