Ourense, like all of Galicia, offers a wealth of products to buy on your trip, whether they are for you or to give away as gifts. Local fashion, arts and crafts, original souvenirs and, of course, fabulous Galician gastronomy, which is unmatched in the rest of Spain in terms of variety and quality. In this article we discover what to buy in Ourense and what products to take home with you from your trip, whether they are for you or to give away.
The so-called thermal city is the perfect size for shopping, offering a wide variety of items for visitors. Thanks to its pedestrianised centre, its markets and the small shops in the historical quarter, shopping in Ourense city centre is a true delight.
If you are travelling to Ourense by car, be sure to bring a cooler bag or something similar with you so you can bring gastronomic items back with you. Don’t forget that you are in Galicia and the markets are genuine museums of fresh produce and good food. You’ll find it hard to resist buying something at each one of them.
Gastronomic products to buy in Ourense
Although we are in Galicia and you can find practically all of its gastronomy anywhere in the region, since it is the only interior province, Ourense has certain features that make its gastronomy quite distinct.
In addition to being Spain’s top thermal province, Ourense has four wine denominations of origin: Ribeiro, Valdeorras, Ribeira Sacra and Monterrei. Grapes such as Mencía, Godello and Treixadura are most commonly used in Ourense denominations of origin, whose quality is undeniable. What’s more, some of them are not so popular outside of Galicia, which makes them a great gift for a loved one.
Another product that is highly characteristic of the province of Ourense are chestnuts, which are without a doubt one of the gastronomic highlights of inland Galicia. Many of the chestnuts that are exported to France to make the famous marron glacé come from here. So, if you go to Ourense in autumn or winter, be sure to take a kilo of chestnuts back with you.
Almost up there with the chestnuts is what became its substitute in the diet after the discovery of the Americas, the potato. The region of A Limia in Ourense province is the largest producer of Galician potatoes and has its own Protected Geographical Indication (IGP).
But if there is one thing that is true for the whole of Galicia it is the quality of its bread. And very close to Ourense is the municipality of Cea, which has its own IGP for its bread. So make sure to pick up some bread from Cea for your box of local produce.
Want to round off your gastronomic haul? Well, add in some peppers from Arnoia, another municipality very close to the city of Ourense. Although they are not Padrón peppers, they also have their own IGP guaranteeing their quality and place of origin.
And, naturally, since you are in Galicia, you cannot miss other products usually found in markets such as Ourense’s, including fish and seafood, meat, vegetables, empanadas, cheese, liqueur, honey, etc. So head to Ourense’s central market, next to the Alameda park, and start filling your basket.
If you prefer something a little less traditional, however, you will also find interesting deli shops in Ourense where you can buy high-quality produce, such as La Tropical and Santorum.
Galician handicrafts
Our shopping recommendations are not just confined to gastronomy. Ourense has a large number of craft shops for all tastes, where you can find original items, such as clothes, jewellery and silver and gold items, ceramics, leather and even handmade toys!
You will find many of these craft shops in the heart of Ourense’s old town. The Ourense Association of Craftspeople (ADAO) is responsible for promoting these types of businesses and organises the Ourense Craft Fair each year.
On Calle Colón, for example, the toyshop A Bufarda will amaze you with its original products. For traditional crafts, head to Duarte (close to Plaza Mayor).
Wooden items also make great gifts and can be found in shops such as Arte 3 and Artesanía Ribao. They also have a good selection of jewellery. Shops such as Xabier Artesanal and A Picota are great places to find something original to take home with you.
And what about a handmade musical instrument? Galicia is a land of bagpipes, tambourines, hand drums and other traditional musical instruments. You can find them in the shop Pablo Martínez Musical Galega.
Other things to buy
In addition to being the thermal capital, Ourense is also a fashion capital. Fashion designers such as Adolfo Domínguez, Roberto Verino and Purificación García, ambassadors of Galician fashion throughout the world, all hail from Ourense province. Thanks in part to them young designers have opened small boutiques in the city centre. Streets such as Calle del Paseo, Calle de Santo Domingo and Calle de la Paz are good places to spend a day out shopping.
But we also must not forget the trusty old traditional souvenir shops. Oreta Xiro, next to the As Burgas fountain, Tenda Artesana, on Plaza Mayor, and Nikis Galicia Style with its lovely Galician T-shirts are also good options if you want to find a gift that is a bit different.
