Stores, Malls or Markets in Lisbon

One's initial and instinctive thought is usually that of a surprise, 'what, Portugal produces its own carpets?' Indeed, surprisingly enough, the country does make carpets; and they're unique and good ones too. Okay, few of us would bother to buy a big item as a carpet to carry home but for those who will not hesitate to spend away, a unique Arraiolos carpet would be a special purchase and a worthy investment no doubt.

Tho the industry has so much dwindled and scaled down so since its heyday in the time of the Moors during the 14th century when Portugal and Lisbon especially was populated by the invading people from North Africa. And through this occupation of the country that this particular craft was derived from actually which had its origins from Persia. Nowadays, the Arraiolos carpet-making is small-scale compared to the massive carpet industries of Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey and industries centered in muslim Asia...and is based exclusively in its name-sake town of Arraiolos which is north of Evora.

Like the Persian rugs, the Arraiolos carpet involves a technique that is a form of long-armed cross-stitch which the Portuguese calls 'bordado mourisco'. The patterns vary from animal to floral and other abstract motifs, all based on Islamic interpretation. But these days the designs have evolved under so many including highly modern forms. These carpets have always been used as both wallhangings as well as floorcoverings. Some fantastic ancient ones can be seen at the Museu de Arte Antiga in the Lapa district of Lisbon.

It's good if one is interested to travel to Alentejo and make a purchase directly from the remaining families that do make them still right in Arraiolos. If not, when one doesn't have the time to explore in Arraiolos itself this great craft still being produced by hand among a few village women, the main shop to visit in Lisbon for them is the Tapetes de Arraiolos located at corner of Rua Imprensa Nacional and Escola Politecnica in the hilly neighborhood of Bairro Alto. They have a wide selection of Arraiolos and will pack and ship but also will take orders of particular design of your own.

Be warned tho that none of these carpets are cheap which is the case for all quality-made carpets anyhow.

Right in the centre of Lisbon, under the arches of Praça do Comercio, one organization including most of the local associations and producers have a shop where you can get all the information needed to buy Portuguese wines, and even taste them.

It's a good stop.

In and around the grounds at Castelo Sao Jorge are a myriad of booths where you can buy all sorts of items, sort of as vendors would have sold items by the castle 200 years ago.

What to buy: Clothing items, souvenirs

Lots of gothic clothes in small and very hot shop.It was allmost hard to breath here.How do they work here!
I didn´t buy anything,because they seemed to have everything only about size s or xs.. The staff wasn´t very helpful and the shop was hard to find open.We walked by every day,but it was open only twice.The openeing times didn´t match the truth.
If it wouldn´t been so hot inside (it wasn´t outside more than +25 or so),I might have spend little more time here.
Interesting shop,too bad for the prices and bad air.

What to buy: Lots of mini-shirts for example-for a goth/rock/heavy-people.Laso lots of jackets.I allmost bought a jacket,but we flew by Ryanair,and I had no room in my back!

What to pay: Less than in Finnish similar shops.Hard to tell exact prices,they vary.

Comics,t-shirts,action figures,manga,anime..Figures from comics,movies made of comics..
I don´t know I should ask my husband to write this-I know only it was so HOT inside there,that I don´t understan how they can work here!And I´m hardly ever saying it´s too hot!

What to buy: Check the first text.

What to pay: ?

I think some of you are waiting me to write about gothic clothes shops.So here´s the best we found in Lisbon!
They have lots of clothes made by the wife otf the coupple,and very nice bags made by their friend.Also many kinds of accesories.

And the coupple was so friendly and lovely-we felt so wellcome,that it was a shame we didn´t find so much to buy!(too low budget,wrong sizes..) but we´d definetly go back,if we will visit Lisbon one day again!!I did buy handmade hairpins and my husband did buy a t-shirt.

What to buy: Their own collection,designed by the wife of that coupple!

What to pay: For a gothic-shop,we think it was cheap.Remembering that they had so much hand made also!

The best thing of shopping in Lisbon is that you encounter some very original store exteriors and interiors. Ourivesaria Aliança is one of the best examples. The woodcarving on the front is amazing.

The shop is a Louis XV-style jewelry and watch shop.

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Disco Lecção is a small shop in Lisbon's Bairro Alto, almost at the top of the stairs coming from Praça Dom Pedro IV.

The collection is well sorted and there are some hidden gems.

Unfortunally in the album section, many re-released albums are mixed with original issues.

It's a vinyl only shop and that makes it very interesting to collectors.

What to buy: Records!

What to pay: Prices at the high end.