What to Find at El Rastro
Besides clothing, shoes, jewellery, furniture, accessories and decorative figures, the market is a treasure trove for those seeking flamenco records, old photos of Madrid, faux designer purses, grunge T-shirts, vintage typewriters and various curiosities. Comics from all eras, puppets, handmade fans and old radios are also common finds. Antiques enthusiasts should head to the shops around Nuevas Galerías and Galerías Piquer.
Another peculiarity of this market is its themed streets. San Cayetano (painters' street) entices passers by with its stalls selling oil paintings, water colours and reproductions of great artworks. Film buffs will find a haven in Calle Mira el Sol, a street which offers everything film related, covering the gamut of styles and directors from Tarkovsky to Truffaut. Avid readers and book collectors should head to Calle Carnero and Calle Carlos Arniches, where vendors sell rare editions of books.
