Something fancy from an international high-street shop, or a bargain in the market? The comfort and the “nearest of hand” of a shopping centre, or shops with quality, knowledge and the experience of having lived and sold for a lifetime? In Vilagarcía everything is possible. Let yourself be carried away by the arrangement of stalls and displays in the market, which has taken place since 1744. Or be seduced by the shop windows that say “this house” was founded one hundred years ago. From everyday products to delicatessens, or freshly picked fruit and vegetables, or recently caught fish; all is sold in the fresh produce marketplace. Though always in confidence.
The local market takes places every Tuesday and Saturday (or the day before, if it coincides with a public holiday) The stalls are set up between Alexandre Bóveda street and Martín Gómez Abal square, it spills over into some of the other side-streets such as Avenida da Marina, Praza Doutor Carús and O Castro. This is the oldest and most important street market in the area. Market trading on Tuesdays was a priviledge granted by Felipe V to don Antonio José Mendoza y Caamaño, III Marquis of Vilagarcía and Viceroy of Peru, in 1744 in order to compensate the great amount of Vilagarcían men levied into the army. It has taken place uninterruptedly ever since.
The fresh produce market is open every morning from Monday to Saturday. The facilities consist of two adjacent buildings, one of which is used exclusively for selling fruit and vegetables grown by local producers and sellers; whilst the other has butchers’, cheese, bread and egg stalls on the upper floor as well as a magnificent market of fish and shellfish recently caught from the ría.
On the second floor of the food market you can have your grocery purchases cooked.
The shopping area in Vilagarcía stretches from the Pazo Vistalegre to O Ramal roundabout, and takes in several pedestrianized squares and streets. There is a wide selection on offer to the shopper. It is possible to keep up to date with the world of fashion in Vilagarcía, available shops include; boutiques, specialized trendy shops (Surf, hippie, hip-hop and so on…) as well as high-street international brands. And if it is food that you are after, the main Spanish and international supermarkets, delicatessens and grocer’s with a professional customer-friendly service are available.
Visitors to Vilagarcía, have practically everything they need and more. Many of these local shops belong to an association called Zona Aberta.
In addition, Vilagarcía also has a shopping centre which is located nearby A Xunqueira park. It opens from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 22:00. Apart from a supermarket, there are also, bars, cafés and a variety of shops. Customers are provided with an undergound car park and with facilities for the disabled.
For those who love natural, ecological food or just the tastes of old times, there is also an alternative. 21st century Vilagarcía also offers delicatessens which look alike those old corner shops in which there were a closer relationship between custormer and sellers and where the quality of the product came first. You can find select oils, canned food, jams, homemade products and spices and even carefully produced natural foodstuffs for vegans or celiacs apart from teas, all kind of premium infussions, traditional chocolates and pasta.
Long-standing corner shop as it was opened in 1950. If offers deli and original products and a customer-friendly service. Its assortment of wines is very ample with all the world best-known certificates of origin. It is specialized in chocolate, jam, biscuits and all kinds of Galician products.
In this cozy shop we can find a great variety of premium quality teas coming directly from the cultivation fields, as well as traditional pastries, jams and chocolates apart from all the necessary tableware to enjoy a tasty infusion.
Located in the heart of the Alameda it offers a great variety of Galician products amongst which traditional jams, local canned food and Albariño wines stand out.
It looks like an old grocery’s but it is focused on today’s nutritional needs with special interest in Galician products.
Charming delicatessen decorated tastefully with attention to detail. Its products can be tasted indoors or on the terrace which has spectacular views on to Cortegada Island and the clam farms.
Shop specialized in bulk products: traditional pasta, flour and semolina, grain and legumes, nuts and chocolate, spices, medicinal herbs and teas, coffee, cheese, canned food and spirits.
