Shopping in Aracena

Foodie Shopping in Aracena © Michelle Chaplow
Foodie Shopping in Aracena © Michelle Chaplow

Shopping in Aracena

Whilst Aracena is not on the list of shopping destinations that would at first come to mind, exploring Aracena’s small independent shops is a delightful experience, fostering a sense of community and sustainability. These charming small shops offer a diverse range of locally crafted goods, from local honey and oven baked bread to artisanal confectionery. While wandering through the cobblestone streets, visitors can find unique souvenirs that encapsulate the essence of Aracena’s rich heritage. Mementos often include handcrafted pottery, traditional textiles, and exquisite leather goods, allowing travellers to take home a piece of Aracena.

Shopping for Souvenirs

Calle Gran Vía Infantes Don Carlos y Doña Luisa
The main street of the village leading off from the square (Plaza Marqués) has a number of interesting clothes, shoe, confectioners and delicatessens that sell local products such as Jamón Serrano, mushrooms, chestnut marmalade, walnut cakes, conserves and wooden walking sticks.

confectioners

Confitería Rufino
Since Rafael Rufino Santos opened this pâtisserie to the public in 1875, the artisan work and the unmistakable flavour of their pastries, cakes and other specialties have been their hallmark of identity. In fact, most of the recipes that are still used today are the result of a fusion over the years and the experience of subsequent generations, which left a particular stamp on their sweets. One thing that brings utter charm to Aracena’s high street is that the establishment still preserves the decoration of confectionery shops from the early twentieth century. As well as their traditional Andalusian sponge cakes, egg flans, marzipans, meringues etc, they make delicious artisan chocolates and a firm favourite with coffee enthusiasts are the mocha tarts.
Located on Calle Constitucíon, 3.
Tel: 959 12 81 21

Pastelería Gran Vía
Apart from selling delicious wood oven baked bread and pastries and cakes, it is worth trying  a very delicious little cake of almonds coated in chocolate.
Located on Calle Gran Vía, 11.
Tel: 959 12 80 85

Confitería Bózquez
Founded in 1940, apart from also being a traditional confectioner producing many of the traditional sweets, this establishment has become increasingly more popular since they went completely lactose-free. None of the other confectioners offer anything lactose-free which meant many have been excluded from enjoying something sweet and freshly baked until Bózquez changed their ingredients to include all.
Located on Calle Gran Vía, 5.
Tel: 959 12 82 01

MAIN SQUARE (PLAZA MARQUÉS)

The main square also hosts a variety of little shops such as the village’s relatively new delicatessens; Tienda Setas Sirlache and Finca Los Robledos.

Finca Los Robledos
Another firm favourite for foodies. The shop actually belongs to a family of goat farmers which produce a variety of delicious cheeses. Here you can buy their cheeses as well as other local ones they also stock. They also make a yummy, carne de memebrillo, quince jelly to accompany their cheese and also stock the local Sierra de Aracena honey. Try getting your hand on a pot of pine nuts in honey which goes beautifully spread on a piece of toast or eaten with cheese which is the most common in Aracena.

If you are interested in the cork harvest in the area, the shop sells a variety of items such as stools, spoons, bags etc all made of cork.

Finca Los Robledos also provides guided tours of their farm and a cheese tasting.

Located on Located in Plaza Marqués de Aracena, 23.
Tel: 658 52 88 00

Casa Seco

Probably as well known as Confitería Rufino, this jewellery shop is just about as traditional as you can get. As well as stocking some wonderful pieces, it is the typical shop that locals go to for a change of battery in your watch, a copy of your house keys cut, an engraved set of champagne flutes for a wedding gift and to top it all off, a passport photo. This is the kind of charming shop that will stay around for years to come.
Located in Plaza Marqués de Aracena, 21.
Tel: 959 12 80 03

Jose Corral
The last traditional clothing shop standing in Aracena. This shop whisks you away to Spain in the 1940s, with very conservative Spanish fashion for ladies and gentleman all neatly folded in endless metres of shelving. As a customer, you must know what you want as soon as you come in and simply ask for it, there is no browsing through racks. The shop assistants will bring out what you ask for, showing you also the array of colours the item comes in and what sizes they have left in store. Jose Corral is still very popular before Feria, when they stock a huge array of flamenco flowers and jewellery.
Located on Calle Constitución, 4.
Tel: 959 12 80 41

 

Local shops that are no more

Sadly, like with many small villages, it is increasingly more difficult to have an established local high street. The popularity and ease of online shopping has caused devastation to many small businesses, and until recently it was completely unheard of that anyone would venture to the big city of Seville for a days’ shopping. The combination of the two has only resulted in an increasing number of people to not support the local shops as much as is needed.

A clear example of this problem is, Galerias Barru, which used to be an interesting clothes store that never changed its style, decor, or products in its thirty-year history becoming fashionably unfashionable. There were assorted boxes you could rummage through with everything from ladies stockings to traditional woolly jumpers ideal for the Sierra in the winter months. After loosing many customers, they eventually had to shut down around 2015.

Another charming shop to close its doors post-Covid, is La Tabacalera. This was a traditional Andalusian hardware shop, selling pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. Although these hardware stores are still going strong in many other towns and villages, with the arrival of various “£1 shops” selling thousands of mass produced items at ridiculously cheap prices, a shop like La Tabacalera was simply unable to compete and ended up having to close its doors this 2023.

Reviving local buusiness

However, a huge push has been made by the Town Hall to revive the local high street. The idea of the Mayor has been to make the main square and Calle Gran Vía pedestrian only, completely closed off from vehicles, allowing shoppers to easily get about, and bars and restaurants to expand their terrace spaces out into the street. They are also on a mission to have no commercial property empty, offering financial help to new businesses and encouraging a variety of shops promoting local produce and crafts to open. The newest to open its doors and one the most popular amongst visitors is Tienda Setas Sirlache. It is also the first place to offer artisan ice-cream during the summer months which has been a huge hit.

Tienda Setas Sirlache
A treasure trove for the ultimate foodie lover. Here you can find local goat and sheep cheese, local wines, freshly baked bread, Ibérican meat, cured meats, conserves, jams etc. Particularly well know are the variety of wild ceps which come in all forms, whether fresh, dried, dehydrated, conserved in sherry or even in paté form. In Autumn people come here to buy wild ceps and chestnut jams. Specifically worth trying are the, castañas en almíbar, chestnuts in a sweet syrup which are an ideal gift or delicious served as a pudding. If you are visiting in the Summer, make sure you pop in for the tomates del terreno, big beefy tomatoes which just need a little drizzle of oil, salt and a sprinkling of dried oregano, which you can also purchase here.
Located on Calle Constitución, 1.
Tel: 647 20 32 99

A wonderful selection of organic fruit and vegetables and handmade ceramics © Michelle Chaplow
A wonderful selection of organic fruit and vegetables and handmade ceramics

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